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

тАЬPatch your view through to us,тАЭ Landon snapped.

An instant later, Jani RykandтАЩs features dissolved to show the blackness of space. In the background
were the usual constellations of stars, subtly or drastically altered from the familiar constellations of home
by the hundred light-yearsMagellan had crossed to reach this world. At first, there was nothing to see.
This changed when a violet flash of light sparked the darkness. It put Landon in mind of summer lightning
back home in B.C. Except this lightning managed to illuminate two shapes in the blackness, one of which
glowed for long seconds after the bolt.

тАЬGive us a tighter view, Hirayama,тАЭ the captain ordered. Onboard the scout the geologist who was
operating the scope controls moved to comply. The distant stars jerked back and forth a few times as the
telescope zoomed to maximum magnification. When it stopped, there was no doubt that they were
looking at two vessels and that one of them seemed intent on destroying the other.

The prey was the larger of the two, a squat cylinder - it looked remarkably like the pressurized cans in
which ground coffee was shipped to prevent vacuum damage. The ship was obviously intended to be
spun to produce artificial gravity. Its tormentor was a thin cylinder with a variety of mechanisms jutting
from a central core. While they watched, the attacker again sent a beam of violet to splash against the hull
of its larger prey. They watched as a geyser of plasma spewed away from the strike in a wide-angled
vacuum expansion cone.

тАЬAll recorders to maximum,тАЭ Landon ordered without being aware of it. тАЬHirayama, track them!тАЭ

Even with the telescope focused on the battling duo, it was obvious that the larger ship was doing
everything in its power to escape. It jinked one way, then the other, always trying to stay ahead of its
tormentor. The effort was futile. The small warcraft matched each violent maneuver with one of its own,
hanging onto its prey like a small terrier harrowing a large bull. Every few seconds another violet beam
would splash across the hide of the larger craft, leaving an ugly, glowing scar in its wake. Yet, if the small
ship were attempting to disable the larger, it was having little luck. After each hit, the target changed
course and tried to flee.

тАЬTheyтАЩre headed this way!тАЭ Jani RykandтАЩs excited voice said over the intercom. Sure enough, the larger
ship had changed course and was now headed directly for the scout. As the observers aboardMagellan
watched, the squat cylinder became a perfect circle and began to grow on the screen. Whatever drive
principle the two unknowns were using was not obvious. There were no flares or other emissions to
suggest they moved by means of reaction engines.

тАЬScout Three, take evasive action!тАЭ

тАЬAny particular ideas?тАЭ the young woman pilot asked. тАЬThey both look as though they can fly rings
around this tub of mine. My God, look at them come!тАЭ

She was right. Both ships were growing at an unbelievable rate on the screen. Soon Hirayama was
backing off on the magnification to keep them in view. It took less than a minute before both ships were
within naked eye range of Scout Three. The larger prey flashed past at a range of ten kilometers with the
small war craft in hot pursuit.

Then it happened.