"The Sails Of Tau Ceti" - читать интересную книгу автора (McCollum Michael)

УOh, just a hundred times or so,Ф Sadibayan replied with a grin. УYou broke this
young manТs heart, Miss Bronson.Ф
УI doubt that, Mr. Subminister.Ф
УItТs true! He did nothing on the trip out but worry whether he would have time
to see you.Ф
She turned to Ben. УReally?Ф
He nodded. УIf you hadnТt been here tonight, I was going to hop the first Phobos
shuttle.Ф
УIТm flattered.Ф
Sadibayan turned to face his assistant. УSee how easy it is if youТre honest
with women, Ben?Ф
УI only wish I had your skill, sir,Ф Tallen replied with mock humility.
The buzz of conversation around them was interrupted by the chime that announced
the start of a new class period. Dard asked everyone to take his or her seats.
He gestured for her to take the chair next to his own.
Pierce began by introducing everyone. Besides Boris Hunsacker and the two
terrestrial government representatives, Tory was surprised to learn of the
presence of a representative of the Martian parliament.
Pierce said, УYour show, Boris.Ф
УThank you, Professor Pierce,Ф the projectТs terrestrial representative said. He
nervously shuffled a series of printouts before continuing. УIТm sure all of you
are wondering what the hell this is all about, so I wonТt keep you in suspense
any longer than I must. However, I need to give you some background information,
so please bear with me. Lights off, cube on!Ф
This last was addressed to the room monitor, which dutifully dimmed the lights
and activated the holocube perched at the center of the table. The cube showed
an old fashioned two-dimensional photograph. It was a picture of a starfield,
with a yellow point of light at the center. There were a few other stars
scattered across the field of view.
УThis, gentlemen and ladies, is a photograph of Tau Ceti taken late in the
Twentieth Century. In those days, Tau Ceti was a type K0 yellow-orange dwarf
star, quite unremarkable save for its proximity to the sun. It is just twelve
light years from here, practically next door.Ф
The scene changed. Again, the view in the cube was two-dimensional. It was
obviously the same starfield since the scattering of stars was largely the same.
Only the central point of light had changed. It was now a brilliant burst of
white.
УThis was taken on August 25, 2001. That was the day that Tau Ceti went nova.
The event created quite a stir among astronomers. Like the sun, Tau Ceti was
still on the main sequence when it exploded, and main sequence stars are not
supposed to do that sort of thing. Even today, we have no theory that explains
how a star like Tau Ceti could possibly have exploded. The fact that it did,
however, suggests that our theories on the subject need some revision.Ф
УWasnТt there another anomaly associated with the nova?Ф Roger Aaron asked.
Aaron was a member of the faculty of the University of Olympus, and the
governing boardТs recording secretary.
УThere was. Initial recordings of the nova suggested a deficiency of a few
percent in the novaТs light output. Those readings may have been in error,
however, since later observations showed the light curve to be well within
tolerance for a Type II nova.Ф