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

тАЬA search beam of moderate power. I am also picking up a transmission.тАЭ

тАЬPut it on speaker,тАЭ he said.


тАЬWARNING. WARNING. YOU ARE APPROACHING THE RESTRICTED ZONE OF
A PROTECTED HISTORIC MONUMENT. YOU ARE HEREBY ADVISED TO TURN
BACK IMMEDIATELY. FAILURE TO COMPLY MAY LEAD TO CIVIL OR CRIMINAL
PENALTIES BEING ASSESSED AGAINST YOU.тАЭ
тАЬWhat is that?тАЭ Braedon asked.

тАЬIt would appear to be an automated satellite of some kind.тАЭ

тАЬPut a lid on it before it squawks to Earth.тАЭ

The mechanical voice shut off in mid-cry and they continued their approach. Less than a minute later, the
computer had some more distressing news.

тАЬThere is a ship beside the probe.

Braedon felt his mouth go dry. тАЬA manned vessel?тАЭ

тАЬBy its design, yes. What should I do?тАЭ

тАЬNothing,тАЭ Braedon replied. тАЬContinue the approach.тАЭ

The probe had grown large enough to fill the screen. Braedon ordered magnification reduced. Sure
enough, there was a spacecraft hovering close by the probeтАЩs control sphere. It was a tiny thing about the
size of the scout boats thatProcyonтАЩs Promise carried. Its design was similar to that of ships in use when
Pathfinder had departed the Solar System.

тАЬWhat do you make of it, Scholar?тАЭ he asked.

тАЬObviously powered by a plasma reaction jet. Its engine is probably an I-mass initiated, hydrogen fusion
reactor. Standard design. By its size, I would guess a runabout, two to four crewmen.тАЭ

тАЬSightseers?тАЭ

тАЬHighly probable.тАЭ

тАЬI have spotted a single figure on the surface of the probe, Robert,тАЭ PROMsaid. тАЬShe sees us and is
calling the ship. I have blocked the signal from getting through.тАЭ

тАЬShe?тАЭ

тАЬBy the timbre of the voice, I estimate a ninety percent probability that the person inside that spacesuit is
a woman.тАЭ

тАЬWhat language does she speak?тАЭ