"David L. Kuzminski - On the One Hand" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kuzminski David L)

However, this ship was huge, possibly bigger than the Stellar Princess. Despite being in the asteroid
belt, much of the ship was still intact, too. Of course, that was easily explained by the fact that the wreck
was travelling in the same direction and general speed as the rocks. Janus wondered if the ship was trying
to make its way through the belt. Only he couldn't think of any reason for it to do so unless it was
exploring. Even then, he could think of a dozen better ways to explore the belt than taking the whole ship
into it. Janus left his controls after setting them to keep pace outside the belt with the wreck. He then
went back to the suit locker and struggled to suit himself up. There was only one way to reach the wreck.
Only one way that was relatively safe, that is. He'd have to go in personally with only his armored suit to
protect him. At least he'd be a much smaller target than his ship. As well, if he saw anything coming
directly at him, he could always press the retract switch and be yanked out by a winch on his ship. He
hoped that wouldn't happen since he'd only have to try again. Janus didn't relish making his way through
those rocks more than twice. Once to get in and once more to get out. As well, he had no idea whether
the designers of the alien wreck had used anything valuable in constructing their ship.

Janus knew that the entire ship might be an archaeological treasure house if he could winch it out.
Provided the government didn't commandeer it without any compensation, Janus knew that he could
practically name his price. However, if he couldn't get the wreck out, he'd have to make do with anything
he could tear loose and carry back. Hopefully, there'd be enough value in what he found to supplement
his income. Then he could purchase those things that Jill wanted, but said nothing about when she didn't
get any of them.

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Janus finished his survey of the exterior. He hadn't planned on the ship being wedged as it was among
several large asteroids or being so deep within the belt. It wasn't that he couldn't pull it out. It was more
that he was concerned that he might disturb too many rocks at the same time. Rocks that could come out
at him to hit his exposed engines. As well, he hadn't found anyplace to link his line so that he could winch
it out. That was the single most important reason for his disappointment. He had wanted the ship so bad,
he could practically taste it despite having his armored suit between himself and the wreck.

As well, his thoughts about why the ship was in the asteroid belt were different. He was certain after his
inspection that the alien ship wasn't exploring. Not with the apparent battle damage he found that he
couldn't see from outside the belt. He didn't know if the ship was hit before or after it came to rest within
the belt, though that didn't matter. He only knew that the wreck was even more important to the
government than before since it was a warship. He consoled himself with the thought that the government
would have taken it away without compensation anyway, so it didn't much matter that he couldn't get the
whole ship out. If the government wanted it, then the government would have to salvage it. For the time
being, he'd try to find what he could to sell and tell the government after he had some cash in his pocket.
Let them commandeer the missing parts from whoever he sold them to. That would be their tough luck.

********************
Janus entered through one of the rents in the fuselage. There were plenty to choose from. He chose one
that was more than large enough and led to a visible corridor inside the ship. He made his way silently
along the corridor, peeking into cabins as if there might still be someone alive in one to react to his
presence. In a way, he was glad that Mike wasn't along. Mike was too much to the right and supportive
of the government. Likely, Mike would have forced him to reveal the wreck's presence before he had
anything off it to make the trip worthwhile. That or Mike would have radioed the government while Janus
explored the wreck.

********************
The box floated eerily in the room. To Janus' amazement, the box still had lights on it indicating that there