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

satisfied. It was a testimonial to the diversions provided byHenning тАЩs management that the story was
widely accepted as completely reasonable. Besides which, it was true.

Be that as it may, Chryse Haller was bored.

Chryse had arrived atThe Roost two weeks earlier for her first vacation in three years. She had plunged
immediately into the social whirl, sampling most of the diversions that were not ultimately harmful to oneтАЩs
health. She had playedchemin de fir , blackjack, poker, roulette, and seven-card stapo on the gaming
decks. Later, she had enlisted as a centurion in a Roman Legion on the Sensie-Gamer deck and slogged
for two days through the damp chill of a simulated Gaul. Her first battle convinced her that the difference
between ancient warfare and a modern butcher shop is mostly a matter of attitude, and she began to cast
around for new diversions.

She turned to the most traditional sport of all, availing herself of the large pool of male companionship -
both professional and tourist - thatThe Roost had to offer. The previous evening she had attended the
nightly Bacchanal on Beta Deck. That had been a mistake She would become involved with a handsome
young man whose only goal was to please her. Yet, in spite of the soft lights, the rich smell of incense,
and the warm glow of two drinks within her; she found herself losing interest with each passing moment.
She had ended up watching simulated clouds scud across a simulated sky. Afterwards, she made her
excuses and left early.

There was no doubt about it. Lotus eating was definitely beginning to pall.

Playing with a fruit bowl, Chryse now sat alone in a breakfast nook pondering the curious emotional state
into which she had fallen. Her reflection stared dully back at her from the polished depths of the table.
The image was that of a woman in her early thirties, blonde, with shoulder length hair that framed a wide,
honest face. The eyes were set wide apart above high cheekbones, a nose that seemed a trifle small, and
a mouth just then twisted into a slight scowl. The eyes were brown in the simulated mahogany of the
table, but green in actuality.

тАЬTenth-stellar for your thoughts.тАЭ

Chryse looked up to find Roland Scott standing over her. Roland had been a member of her section in
the Gaul campaign. They had mustered out together and she had taken him as a lover that same night. He
had been good for her psyche and they had spent three glorious days together before she suffered the
minor disappointment of discovering that he was aRoost employee.

тАЬHello, Roland.тАЭ

тАЬWhy so glum?тАЭ he asked.

тАЬJust a little tired, I guess.тАЭ

тАЬAnything I can do to help?тАЭ

She shook her head. тАЬIтАЩm afraid thereтАЩs no cure for what ails me. You may have a seat if you like,
though.тАЭ

He quickly slid into the opposite side of the booth. тАЬMaybe it would help to talk about it.тАЭ