"Myst - 02 - The Book Of Ti'ana" - читать интересную книгу автора (Miller Rand)

"Ah, Aitrus. Working late again?"

"Yes, Guild Master."

Jerahl grinned paternally. "Knowing you, you'll be so engrossed in some
experiment, you'll miss your supper. You want me to bring you something
through?"

"Thank you, Guild Master. That would be most welcome."

"Not at all, Aitrus. It's good to see such keenness in a young guildsman. I
won't say it to their faces, but some of your fellows think it's enough to carry
out the letter of their instructions and no more. But people notice such
things."

Aitrus smiled.

"Oh, some find me-foolish, Aitrus, I know. It's hard not to overhear things on a
tiny ship like this. But I was not always a cook. Or, should I say, only a cook.
I trained much as you train now, to be a Surveyor-to know the ways of the rock.
And much of what I learned remains embedded here in my head. But I wasn't
suited. Or, should I say, I found myself better suited to this occupation."

"You trained, Master Jerahl?"

"Of course, Aitrus. You think they would allow me on an expedition like this if
I were not a skilled geologist?" Jerahl grinned. "Why, I spent close on twenty
years specializing in stress mechanics."

Aitrus stared at Jerahl a moment, then shook his head. "I did not know."

"Nor were you expected to. As long as you enjoy the meals I cook, I am content."

"Of that I've no complaints."

"Then good. Go on through. I shall bring you something in a while."

Aitrus walked on, past the bathing quarters and the sample store, and on into
the tail of the craft. Here the corridor ended with a solid metal door that was
always kept closed. Aitrus reached up and pulled down the release handle. At
once the door hissed open. He stepped through, then heard it hiss shut behind
him.

A single light burned on the wall facing him. In its half-light he could see the
work surface that ran flush with the curved walls at waist height, forming an
arrowhead. Above and below it, countless tiny cupboards held the equipment and
chemicals they used for analysis.

Aitrus went across and, putting his notebook down on the worktop, quickly