"Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle - Fallen Angels" - читать интересную книгу автора (Niven Larry)

The Angels were depending on them. But they couldn't tell the trooper
that.
"Oh, let them through, trooper," said Scithers. "What the hell's the point
of keeping the Gap clear if we don't let people through?"
Freedom, he was at a temporary loss for words. And while normally
Sherrine might have enjoyed that, she didn't think a long, strained silence
would be too smart. So she spoke up. "My grandparents live near Fargo,"
she said. "They saw a fireball go down on the Ice and called me and told
me about it. As long as these guys were coming this way to sightsee, I
thought I'd tag along and see if I could pick up some souvenirs."
The trooper rubbed a heavily gloved hand across his chin, and she
wondered why he didn't wear a beard like most men did these days. Dress
policy? "Yeah, we heard about it, too, at the barracks. Goddam Angels. A
couple of planes from Ellsworth flew over a few hours back; though I don't
know what they hoped to see at night. IR, maybe. Come daylight the
glacier'll be crawling with helicopters and search parties. No rush. Those
Angels will be froze dead by then."
"Froze," she repeated.
"And serves them right, too."
She noticed Mikes jaw twitch an instant before he spoke. "Why?"
Mike, she thought, don't let your mouth talk us into trouble. So far, they
were just a van load of jerks out joyriding. If the trooper began to suspect
that they were "Angel-loving technophiliacs," they would be in serious shit.
"Why?" The trooper waved his arm at the glacier. "Because they started
this, asshole! They did it to us. Stealing our air until the Protective Blanket
was too thin to keep us warm."
Captain Scithers nodded. "Damn right," he said. "All that air they took,
hundreds of tons-тАФ" His voice was serious.
Sherrine nodded her head as if she agreed. So did Steve and Will. Thor
said nothing, but he twisted his finger in his right ear as if to unplug it. She
prayed to Ghu that Mike would take the hint and keep quiet.
Bob decided not to trust in Ghu. He put the van in gear. "We better get
going," he said over his shoulder, "if we're going to reach your
grandparents' house in time for breakfast. Thanks for your help, officer."
He gave a wave that was half-salute.
North?
"The Corps has been fighting a losing battle trying to keep I-94 and I-29
open," Bruce responded. "He probably hasn't thought about anything else
but ice conditions for the last five years."
Thor ran his fingers through his beard. "Must be one hell of a dinner
conversationalist."
"I don't know," said Bob. "Some of the strange stories I've heard about
conditions on the Ice, he must have some weird tales to tell."
And with that they entered Fargo Gap, the ice on both sides of the
highway rearing straight and high as canyon walls and sparkling with the
reflections of the work lights behind them.
had it. By that criterion he had at least come down in one piece.
He tried to lift his head to see how Gordon was doing.
He couldn't move. Paralyzed? A moment of panic washed over him as
he imagined himself lying here slowly freezing to death, unable to do