"C. Sanford Lowe & G. David Nordley - Imperfect Gods" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lowe C Sanford)

тАЬHuh? Oh, sorry. I was just checking with the site on how impactor
fabrication was doing. Icestar was reporting a concern about defect frequency.тАЭ

тАЬMom, those pop media gadflies would make a scandal out of someoneтАЩs
hangnail.тАЭ

She chuckled. тАЬItтАЩs not really important; weтАЩd like the impactor to be a single
crystal, but thatтАЩs not a requirement. That close to light speed, its mechanical
properties on impact are almost irrelevant.тАЭ In two New Antarctica years, their
billion-ton iron rod would be the first to head toward the implosion site, a little less
than eights light years away. Independently, identical impactors would be launched
from Lacaille 9352, Epsilon Eridani, and Sol. Each impactor and each launch had to
meet exacting specification and schedule constraints to make the implosion as
symmetrical as physics would allow, or the biggest fiasco in human history would
result. She was really not so unhappy to have someone else take responsibility for
that.

A hood fell from one of the passengers, revealing a tall blond with wide-set
eyes and a long nose. She didnтАЩt seem to mind the chill, and she was grinning from
ear to ear. She glanced around and SashaтАЩs eyes met hers momentarily.

тАЬMom?тАЭ

тАЬItтАЩs her! Dr. KremerтАЩs the tall one.тАЭ Naomi waved. The woman waved back
and headed for the elevator.

тАЬNot bad,тАЭ Sasha said. тАЬSheтАЩll melt someoneтАЩs icecap.тАЭ

Naomi smiled. тАЬShe looks really glad to be home.тАЭ At twenty, her son was
somewhat of a man-child, brilliant enough in his architectural studies but never quite
connecting socially. She worried that she was too close to him, that she hadnтАЩt quite
lived up to her weaning responsibilities.

Dr. Kremer reappeared on the terrace and headed for their table. SheтАЩd shed
the hooded cape on the elevator, to reveal a trim figure in a standard gray unisuit.
She carried herself with a grace that spoke of diligent exercise.
 тАЬMom, is she an athlete?тАЭ Sasha asked. тАЬThirteen years on a starship and she
looks like she could run a marathon!тАЭ

Naomi laughed. тАЬAbout seven years ship timeтАФremember your physicsтАФand
people have a lot of time for exercise on interstellar voyages. Sasha, donтАЩt jump into
the personal stuff right away, okay?тАЭ

тАЬOkay.тАЭ

Kremer held out a hand as she reached the table. тАЬNaomi Abila! How good to
see you in person. And this must be Sasha!тАЭ

тАЬWelcome to New Antarctica,тАЭ Sasha said, holding out his hand.