"Angry Young Spaceman" - читать интересную книгу автора (Munroe Jim)

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ANGRY YOUNG SPACEMAN



Jim Munroe




Copyright й 2000 by Jim Munroe.




***


Bubbles over Plangyo,
Where did you go?
ЧOctavian folk song


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I had a massive suitcase dragging down one fist and my Speak-O-Matic case in the
other.
УLet me help you with that,Ф said Lisa. I pushed my suitcase at her, but she
reached around it to snatch the jet black translator.
I let go reluctantly. УCareful,Ф I said, lurching on with my suitcase.
She swung it jauntily as she walked, smirking back at me from under her messy
mop of brown curls. I set the suitcase down and picked it up with my other hand.
УСWhat do I need antigrav cells for, Lisa?ТФ Lisa said in her stupid-guy voice
as she watched me struggle. УСWhat a total waste of money!ТФ
I looked at the spaceport ahead and picked up my pace. УYou deliberately parked
the floater far away to ЧФ A guy with a jetpack touched down between Lisa and I,
cutting me off. I scowled at him as I walked through his purple exhaust, my nose
burning from it.
She watched me with a smidge of sympathy. УHowТs your head?Ф
I shrugged. УNot bad, considering.Ф
УYeah, it was quite a party,Ф she said with a crooked smile. УWere you surprised
with how many people showed up?Ф
I nodded. The rooftop had been packed, new people landing every minute it
seemed. I felt, again, a bubble of doubt rise, as I thought about all the good
friends I had on Earth. I could feel Lisa watching me. Ahead, a rocket launched,
its ignition-plume predictably lighting a burst of excitement in my chest.
УItТs gonna be good,Ф I said, staring at it as it rose. I suddenly worried about
my boxes. They had been sent ahead and (hopefully) already sat in the belly of