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

might decide you arenТt the proper material for them.Ф
BenТs crack about Уlocal yokelsФ irritated her. Like most Martians, Tory had a
deep inferiority complex when it came to anything concerning Earth. She was
especially aware that the University of Olympus was considered by some to be a
cow college. Ben, on the other hand, was a terrestrial exchange student who
never tired of telling everyone he could have gone to New Yale or Harvard. When
asked why he had not, he always said something to the effect that he had wanted
to improve the curve at Olympus U. instead.
Tory still remembered the hot flash of anger that had surged through her at
BenТs crack. УWell IТmgoing to interview with them and if the high and mighty
corporations from Earth donТt like it, tough!Ф
She would have forgotten all about it if Ben had not decided to taunt her one
final time.
УDonТt say I didnТt warn you!Ф
To her surprise, Tory found herself attracted to the idea of being part of
humanityТs first attempt to reach the stars. The more she thought about it, the
more attracted she became. Her interest, coupled with BenТs clumsy attempts to
dissuade her, drove her to accept the offer -- at less than half the going pay
scale for newly minted synergists. She told Ben of her decision a week before
graduation. The resulting argument led to their breakup.
Two weeks later, they sat together in the lounge of Olympus spaceport, waiting
for the ferry that would take Ben up to the interplanetary liner docked at
Deimos. They made small talk and promised to write every week though both knew
the promises were empty. Tory remembered how awkward it had been to kiss Ben
goodbye and the feeling of relief as his lanky form disappeared into the
embarkation tube.
That had been three years ago. Since then, Tory had held a variety of jobs with
the interstellar project. Her latest made her responsible for the software that
would fly the interstellar probe on its decades-long journey. Since software was
at the heart of the any modern system, her position placed her in de facto
command of construction on Phobos. There were others more senior, but no one
with a clearer picture of the state of the project at any given moment.
She was startled out of her contemplative mood by a silent voice that suddenly
emanated from her computer implant.
УAre you awake up there?Ф
The voice belonged to Vance Newburgh. Vance, like Tory, was a synergist hired
directly out of college. His speech was marked by a strong Australasian accent,
a hint of which made it through the implant.
УIТm awake,Фshe thought.УWhatТs up?Ф
Her custom of coming up to the surface once each week to viewStarhopper Тs
progress was well known. It was, she told the curious, her way of keeping one
foot planted firmly in reality. An occupational hazard for those who dealt with
direct computer-to-mind interfaces was that they sometimes became unsure of what
comprised reality. More than one had fallen to his death because he had
forgotten that there is nothing theoretical about the concept of gravity.
УMessage from the university. Professor Pierce requests your presence at an
emergency meeting of the governing board.Ф
УWhen?Ф
УTonight. Zero eight hundred hours, Conference Room 100, Lowell Hall.Ф
УIТll attend via screen.Ф