"George R. R. Martin - Loaves and Fishes" - читать интересную книгу автора (Martin George R R)

comfortable auxiliary communications room that appears to be fully functional. I would like your
cybertechs to reprogram and redesign the command systems so that in future I will be able to accomplish
anything that might need accomplishing from there, without the need of making the exhausting daily trek
to the bridgeтАФindeed, without the need of leaving my seat.
тАЬBeyond these major tasks, I have in mind only a few further alterations. Some minor modernizations,
perhaps. The addition of a kitchen with a full array of spices and flavorings, and a large recipe library, in
order that I might dine on food somewhat more varied and interesting to the palate than the grimly
nutritious military fare the Ark is now programmed to provide. A large stock of beers and wines and the
mechanisms necessary to ferment my own in future, during lengthy deep-space voyagings. The
augmentation of my existing entertainment facilities through the acquisition of some books, holoplays, and
music chips dating from this last millennium. A few new security programs. Other trifling minor changes. I
will provide you with a list.тАЭ
Tolly Mune listened to him with astonishment. тАЬGoddamn,тАЭ she said when he had finished. тАЬYou really do
have a derelict EEC seedship, donтАЩt you?тАЭ
тАЬIndeed,тАЭ said Haviland Tuf. A little stiffly, she thought.
She grinned. тАЬMy apologies. IтАЩll scramble a crew of spinnerets and cybertechs, scream тАЩem right over to
have a look, and weтАЩll get you an estimate. DonтАЩt hold your goddamned breath, though. That big a ship,
itтАЩll take quite a while before they begin to sort things out. IтАЩd better post some security, too, or youтАЩll
have all kinds of curiosity seekers tramping through your halls and stealing souvenirs.тАЭ She looked his
hologram up and down thoughtfully. тАЬIтАЩll need you to give my crew a briefing and point them in the right
direction. After that, itтАЩd be better if you got out from underfoot and let them run amuck. You canтАЩt bring
that damned monstrosity into the web, itтАЩs too puling big. You got any way of getting out of there?тАЭ
тАЬThe Ark is equipped with a full complement of shuttlecraft, all operational,тАЭ said Haviland Tuf, тАЬbut I
have scant desire to leave the comforts of my quarters. Certainly my ship is large enough so that my
presence will not seriously inconvenience your crews.тАЭ
тАЬHell, you know that and I know that, but they work better if they donтАЩt think someoneтАЩs looking over
their shoulders,тАЭ said Tolly Mune. тАЬBesides, IтАЩd think youтАЩd want to get out of that can a bit. YouтАЩve
been shut up alone for how long?тАЭ
тАЬSeveral standard months,тАЭ Tuf admitted, тАЬalthough I am not strictly alone. I have enjoyed the company
of my cats, and have pleasantly occupied myself learning the capabilities of the Ark and expanding my
knowledge of ecological engineering. Still, I will concede your point that perhaps a bit of recreation is in
order. The opportunity to sample a new cuisine is always to be relished.тАЭ
тАЬWaitтАЩll you try SтАЩuthlamese beer! And the port has other diversions as wellтАФexercise facilities, hotels,
sports, drug dens, sensoria, sex parlors, live theater, gaming halls.тАЭ
тАЬI have some small skill at certain games,тАЭ Tuf said.
тАЬAnd then thereтАЩs tourism,тАЭ Tolly Mune said. тАЬYou can just take the tubetrain down the elevator to the
surface, and all the districts of SтАЩuthlam are yours to explore.тАЭ
тАЬIndeed,тАЭ said Tuf. тАЬYou have intrigued me, Portmaster Mune. I fear I am of a curious temperament. It is
my great weakness. Unfortunately, my funds preclude a lengthy stay.тАЭ
тАЬDonтАЩt worry about that,тАЭ she replied, smiling. тАЬWeтАЩll just put it on your repair bill, settle up afterwards.
Now, just hop in your goddamned shuttle and bring yourself to, letтАЩs see...dock nine-eleven is vacant.
See the Spiderhome first, then take the train downstairs. You ought to be a goddamned sensation.
YouтАЩre on the newsfeeds already, you know. The groundworms and flies will be crawling all over you.тАЭ
тАЬA decaying piece of meat might find this prospect appealing,тАЭ said Haviland Tuf. тАЬI do not.тАЭ
тАЬWell then,тАЭ the Portmaster said, тАЬgo incognito!тАЭ


The steward on the tubetrain wheeled out a tray of beverages shortly after Haviland Tuf had strapped
himself in for the trip downstairs. Tuf had sampled SтАЩuthlamese beer in the restaurants of Spiderhome,
and found it thin, watery, and notably devoid of taste. тАЬPerhaps your offerings include some malt