"Mike Moscoe - Society of Humanity 03 - They Also Serve" - читать интересную книгу автора (Moscoe Mike)

Ray leaned back. "Never been an ambassador before. Might be less exciting than
storming mountain passes guarded by Mary."

"Might be downright boring," Matt quipped. "Thanks to you, we've got the assets on
board to set up quite a base." Actually, Captain Anderson had insisted the next explorer
ship carry damn near enough equipment to rebuild itself. Claimed that was the way they
explored the Americas in Shakespeare's time. Ray adopted the idea only when Rita's dad
found the gear at salvage prices. Now he hoped it was as good as Papa Nuu said it was.
"You concentrate on finding a way home while I shake hands, kiss babies, and manage
mountain moving," Ray drawled. "Just remember, I want to be there when Rita makes
me a dad."

"Right. Nobody wants to be the ship driver who has to explain to Rita why Daddy got
home late."
They laughed, as if getting home was a done deal. After all, they had all of six months.
Around them, the bridge relaxed. The bosses were confident. Why shouldn't the rest of
the crew be as well? What could be down there that they couldn't handle?



Jeff Sterling settled into his usual chair.
"How's the rape-and-pillage business?" came from the public room's kitchen in a light,
dancing voice, Annie Mulroney's usual morning greetings to him.

"How should I know? Vicky and Mark aren't talking to me," Jeff answered in feigned
innocence.

Annie bounced from the kitchen to set his usual brown bread and steaming tea in front
of him, her black hair flying, green eyes shining. Resting her elbows on the counter, she
met his gaze eye to eye. "Surely the junior son of the great Sterling family knows what got
strip-mined yesterday and who made a mint. Hasn't some leprechaun whispered in your
ear this fine morning, some infernal machine blared at you the stock market report?"
Jeff laughed as he added a dollop of strawberry jam to his bread, enjoying the gentle
hint of cleavage Annie's high-waisted dress offered. When she stood, she was nearly as tall
as he, and the local dresses hid more than they revealed. With her standing thus, it was
not easy keeping his eyes level. After a quick glance down that only broadened her smile,
he returned to the morning's ripostes.

"The only fairy folk I've seen today is in front of me. And I haven't the foggiest idea
how the market is doing, since the ancient place I'm staying in is not on the net."
"Our rooms are not ancient, Jeffrey Sterling." Annie swatted him with her dishcloth.
Jeff might have wished for another response, but Mulroneys did not kiss Sterlings.

"They are low-tech," he insisted around a bite of bread.

"You have your own facilities, your own shower. And the bed is firm and new."
And solitary, he did not add. "With no net link, not even a television, it's like something
out of an ancient story, a prison cell for solitary confinement, woman." There: He did get
the "solitary" in there.