"Jack McKinney - Kaduna Memories" - читать интересную книгу автора (McKinney Jack)

A strand of Mika's ponytailed hair drifted up to tickle Nugget's ear. He thought of his daughter and
experienced a moment of profound homesickness. Jain's hair was every bit as fine and blond as the
young tech's; in some ways she resembled Mika more than she did her own mother.

Nugget returned to his study of the readout text, breaking his silence with a snort of astonishment. "Here,"
he said, spinballing a mouse to the troublespot. "Order an amplified reveal of this entire section."

Mika's tapered fingersтАФblue lacquered nails today, Nugget noticedтАФentered the request on a control
pad set into the arm of her swivel chair. Nugget watched the screen with interest, laughing once again
after he had traced the AI's circuitous reasoning route to completion.

"I'm supposed to feel relieved you find this funny," Commander Kakis said, ceasing his restless null-gee
bobbing to shoulder up next to Nugget and direct a baffled look at the screen.
Nugget exchanged a secret smile with Mika. "Funny as in astounding," he told Kakis, levering himself
erect once more.

Kakis showed him a frown. The Excalibur deserved more than this stocky, swashbuckling Greek,
Nugget thought. But the man had somehow charmed Emeric Bulkroad into believing that bravado was
essential to inspired leadership.

Nugget wasn't surprised by the choice. Offworld Lifting and Development's new CEO seemed to favor
rashness and charm in an employeeтАФespecially when it came to ship commanders. Emeric Bulkroad
was in fact something of a template for the headstrong daredevils who supervised many of OLD's orbital
enterprises; and if Nugget had anything to marvel at, it was how he himself had been selected to serve as
science adviser on the Excalibur's prospecting foray among the asteroids.

Just now, however, the onboard AI had the ship on a collision course with a rather impressive chunk of
porous rockтАФan Apollo object designated 2008FC, which had paid Earth a celestial close encounter
several years back.

"You see what's happening," Nugget explained, gesturing to the screen after asking Mika to reenter a
series of course-correction commands. "It's as if someone is overriding our command authority. MOLLY
is obviously hellbent on an attitude burn for 2008FC," he added, calling the cyber system by name.

Kakis eyed the computer's sensor port with undisguised distaste. "I don't trust these damn things. I never
have and I never will."

Nugget nodded in false understanding. "Just the same, I suggest you get used to the idea." He put a hand
against MOLLY'S tactile scanner and smiled affectionately. "We're married to machines, Commander,
for better or for worse."

The Greek curled his lip. "Not all of us, Doctor. Do what you want with them downside, but on this ship
men rule."

Nugget saw Mika's brown eyes narrow, but she kept them fixed on the tabletop readout. "So noted,
Commander," he said. "And I'm certain Mr. Bulkroad will take your opinion into consideration when he
approves a final design for the mining ships."

Kakis opened his mouth, but bit back whatever it was he had in mind to say. Instead, he took Nugget by