"Michael McCollum - Maker 2 - Procyion Promise" - читать интересную книгу автора (McCollum Michael)

entered Main DomeтАЩs Number Three Airlock. Gruenmeier thanked the boatтАЩs two young pilots
absentmindedly, unstrapped, and pulled himself to the coffin-sized airlock amidships. Since the terminal
was inside the dome itself, there was no need to suit up. He exited the ship, grabbed hold of one of the
guide cables that crisscrossed the terminal decking, and pulled himself toward the passenger lounge.

He was met by his assistant, Chala Arnam. Arnam was an intense woman in her mid-forties, a
fair-to-middling neutrino astronomer, and the best administrative assistant he had ever had. He was
grooming her to take over Institute operations on that inevitable day the Trustees forced him into
retirement. He hoped there would be something to leave her when the time came.

тАЬHow did it go?тАЭ she asked.

тАЬNot good,тАЭ he answered.

She studied his dour expression intently, trying to read the degree of disaster there. тАЬHow bad is it?тАЭ

He sighed. тАЬVery. They are not cutting out fat this time. TheyтАЩre amputating our whole lower torso.тАЭ

тАЬAre we going to fight?тАЭ

тАЬHow?тАЭ

тАЬWe could appeal directly to the Trustees.тАЭ

тАЬSimonson suggested that we do so. But you and I both know that his orders come directly from them,
so what is the use? Besides, even if some of them were willing to listen, there is the distance problem to
overcome. We are 800 million kilometers from home out here. The damned accountants are just down
the hall.тАЭ

тАЬPerhaps you should plan a trip to Earth, Julius.тАЭ

тАЬIтАЩve thought of that, and just might do it if we can come up with a viable approach.тАЭ He chewed on his
lower lip as he always did when he was worried, and then abruptly changed the subject. тАЬAnything
interesting happen here while I was gone?тАЭ

тАЬNot much,тАЭ Chala said. тАЬDoctor Chandidibya was in to see me this morning.тАЭ
тАЬLet me guess. He was raising a stink about not being able to monopolize the Big Ear, right?тАЭ

тАЬNot this time. He complained about the service techs. Says they are doing their usual slipshod job. He
thinks the whole lot of them should be fired.тАЭ

тАЬDoes he have any suggestions as to how we can attract better people on the salaries we pay?тАЭ

тАЬI doubt if Dr. Chandidibya cares about minor problems like personnel staffing and retention - unless they
adversely affect the operation of the thousand-meter radioscope, of course.тАЭ

тАЬHowтАЩd you leave him?тАЭ

тАЬGrumpy.тАЭ