"Michael McCollum - Gibraltar earth" - читать интересную книгу автора (McCollum Michael)

тАЬItтАЩs a survey ship!тАЭ Lisa exclaimed. тАЬI wonder which one.тАЭ

тАЬMagellan,тАЭ was PavelтАЩs only reply.

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Lisa observed that docking with a non-rotating structure in space is childтАЩs play compared to the
maneuvers required to approach any of the rotating stations. The only maneuver came at the last moment
as the dumbbell shaped ferry slewed sideways to present its dorsal airlock to the large airlock at the
habitat moduleтАЩs тАЬequator.тАЭ Their arrival was announced by a series ofthunks as the station grappled
them in.

There followed a general popping of ears as the orbital craftтАЩs pilot bled his atmosphere down to match
that of the 40-year-old habitat. Lisa Arden and Dieter Pavel made their way with their luggage to the
airlock antechamber. They hung back until the round hatch swung inward. Beyond was a short tunnel
filled with equipment and truncated by a lighted circle some four meters away. Lisa caught a glimpse of
someoneтАЩs lower torso and legs for a moment before Dieter Pavel cut off her view as he pulled himself
forward and disappeared headfirst into the tunnel.

She waited for Pavel to clear and then followed him. She found a welcoming committee at the other end
of the tube. There were two of them. The older was a bald man of about fifty whose lack of hair
extended even to his eyebrows.

тАЬGreetings, new fish!тАЭ he boomed out. тАЬWelcome to PoleStar. My name is Hancock Mueller, Station
Commander. I am your host, so if you want for anything, give my office a call and we will see if we can
accommodate you. Please be patient with us. We do not usually get visitors in this orbit. Between you
and the survey ship, we are a little overwhelmed just now.тАЭ

Mueller тАЬswamтАЭ to where Pavel clung to a guide rope and thrust out a bony hand. тАЬYou must be the
CoordinatorтАЩs representative.тАЭ

тАЬDieter Pavel,тАЭ Pavel said. тАЬGood to meet you, Commander. I take it that you received Coordinator
HalstromтАЩs message concerning me. IтАЩll need an office and full access to all data.тАЭ

тАЬAn office we can arrange. This old bucket has cubic to spare. As for the data, you will have to handle
that withMagellan тАЩs chief scientist.тАЭ
тАЬThen please show me where I can find him. I am anxious to get started.тАЭ

тАЬVery well. Give your bag to young Adams here. He will take you to Professor Bendagar and then get
you settled. The accommodations arenтАЩt the best, I am afraid, but then weтАЩve had only forty-eight hours
to get this show organized.тАЭ

тАЬI am sure the accommodations will be acceptable.тАЭ

MuellerтАЩs companion floated forward, took PavelтАЩs kit bag, and disappeared with him into the corridor
beyond. Mueller turned to Lisa.

тАЬYou must be Miss Arden.тАЭ

She nodded.