"C. Sanford Lowe & G. David Nordley - Loki's Realm" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lowe C Sanford)

me, and by the time weтАЩd exchanged pleasantries, the others had left.
I suddenly realized I was ravenously hungry. тАЬCold sleep, apparently, gives
one an appetite. I thought IтАЩd head to the canteen. Would you like to join me, Dr.
Lewis? You could explain again to me just whatтАЩs happening in the Epsilon Eridani
system.тАЭ
She looked at me as if IтАЩd said something exceedingly strange, but then said,
тАЬI donтАЩt know that IтАЩll be able to take you much beyond the background material
youтАЩve already studied, but...тАЭ She shrugged and gave me a slight smile. тАЬIтАЩm
hungry, too.тАЭ
Once our canteen sandwiches were devoured, she asked what had been
bothering me.
тАЬA great amount of planning has gone into this. So much so that a problem of
this magnitude seems inconceivable.тАЭ
Lewis nodded very seriously. тАЬThe system has been studied, modeled, and
monitored for over two hundred years, with increasing accuracy over time. What
happened was unprecedented. I suppose we have to remind ourselves that two
hundred years is a near-infinitesimal part of the life of a star. But that doesnтАЩt make
me feel much better.тАЭ
тАЬOh, it would appear to be a serious matter, but I dinna think it one for which
you should bear any particular blame just for being an astrophysicist.тАЭ
She shook her head. тАЬYou donтАЩt understand. I led the modeling team. It was
my call, my assurances...тАЭ
Och! So it did weigh heavy on her. I am not sure how to explain what I did
next, other than that DavraтАЩs display had put me in the mood. Davra herself seemed
clearly untouchable to me. Those subtle things that sort us males from alpha to zed
had made clear to me from my wee years that women like Davra belong only to the
alpha sort. To assume she was other than untouchable would only invite heartache.
But Lewis was more like another professor, of similar disposition to my own, I
thought. And she seemed clearly unspoken for and in need of some friendship. So I
had motive and opportunity. Alas, I had also the means.
тАЬIn that case, bonnie lass, youтАЩll be needing a wee bit of fortification. Now,
have you ever tasted the whisky of my native isle? It is called Talisker, and I have
brought a supply with me.тАЭ
тАЬWhisky? IтАЩll have a bit of wine now and then, but...тАЭ
тАЬIt is only technically whisky. Really one consumes it as a liquor, or a cordial.
ThereтАЩs a touch of sherry to it, some say, and a thickness and a sweetness that will
put you in mind of no whisky you have ever tasted before. You really must try
some.тАЭ
She gave me a wan smile. тАЬDr. Macready...тАЭ
тАЬBruce,тАЭ I said.
тАЬBruce,тАЭ she echoed, тАЬCall me Emma. IтАЩm 123 years old. Been around the
block, havenтАЩt I?тАЭ
The way she said it, I didnтАЩt believe a word of it. тАЬThen come along, lass, will
you?тАЭ
She laughed a bit. тАЬOh, why not?тАЭ
She followed me out of the canteen. тАЬHow did you happen to come on this
expedition?тАЭ
тАЬI knew someone on the project and I asked. To my surprise, I seem to have
been the only one to have this idea.тАЭ WeтАЩd reached my stateroom and its door
glided open at my approach. I gestured for her to precede me, then put a scene of