"Procyon's Promise" - читать интересную книгу автора (McCollum Michael)

powered by tiny antimatter black holes known as I-masses. Human civilization was
built on the limitless energy they provided. They lit manТs cities, smelted his
ores, and drove his spacecraft. When the Pan-African warships attacked the
probe, they were used for the first time as deadly weapons.
Each marauding warship took great care with its approach to the scene of battle,
placing itself on a precise trajectory for the probe. Even though each attacker
was eventually destroyed before it could reach the target, the probe found
itself the focal point of six converging I-masses.
Two reached their mark.
The primary probe personality was destroyed, but SURROGATE - housed at the end
of one of the long sensor booms - survived. Even so, the age-old dream of the
Makers seemed at an end. Damaged as it was, SURROGATE had no hope of reaching
the FTL civilization around Procyon. Worse, the impact of the I-masses had
destroyed all record of the Makers. The surviving probe personality possessed no
single iota of knowledge concerning its creators, their history, their language,
or the location of their star in space.
Out of this situation had come a bargain born of desperation. Since SURROGATE
needed to secure the secret of FTL for the Makers, and humanity needed the Maker
knowledge that had survived the attack, each party agreed to help the other. For
its part, the UN agreed to build a slower-than-light starship and man it with a
crew of ten thousand. When the ship was completed, the circuits that housed
SURROGATE was placed aboard, and the ship headed out on the century long trip to
Procyon. In exchange, SURROGATE agreed to share its vast library of knowledge.
The Procyon mission was launched outbound early in 2096. Allotting a century for
the journey, and an additional decade for the crew to bargain for the secret of
FTL with whatever native race they discovered, the expedition was expected to
return to the solar system (by FTL starship) no later than 2205.
They were now 183 years overdue.

CHAPTER 2

If the probe seemed large from the daycruiser control room, it was gigantic from
the vantage point of the outer framework of the damaged control sphere. Chryse
Haller grasped a crossbeam as she carefully snaked a safety line around a
jutting side beam. She glanced across the rounded plain and shivered at the
suddenly realization of just how alone she felt.
УStatus check,Ф the daycruiser computer said into her earphones. Its voice
contained metallic overtones of unease. The computer had been quite vocal in its
opposition to her leaving the safety of the ship and going out alone to explore
the probe.
УI want to see it with my own eyes,Ф she had explained in announcing her
intentions.Ф
УYou are seeing it with your own eyes,Ф the daycruiser responded, referring to
the holocube projection that hung in midair before ChryseТs couch.
УNo, I mean outside. I want to touch it, to feel its solidity, to make it real!Ф
УIt is far too dangerous. You could be injured.Ф
She shrugged, and then remembered that the machine only responded to voice
inputs. УYouТll be monitoring my vital signs. If I get into trouble, you can fly
my suit back by remote control.Ф
УI still recommend against this unnecessary risk.Ф