"Andre Norton - Solar Queen 06 - Derelict For Trade" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

to be inside the relative safety of a hull once again. She clicked on the
mags in her boots, and stepped to the decking.

The inner lock showed nothing wrong; it was clean and plain, and on
the control console green lights peacefully glowed, except for the red light
indicating the lock still open to space.

Rip worked quickly at the controls, which Rael saw were arranged
differently than those on the Terran ships she was used to. But they were
located at the same general height, indicating use by beings about the size
of humans.

Rip gave a short exclamation of satisfaction and the outer lock shut
behind them. She heard the hiss of air pressure, and after a minute or so
the inner lock opened. The two checked it, stepped through, and Rael and
Jasper followed.

Now it was Rael's turn. She activated the scanner clipped to her suit,
and watched the ripple of the diagnostics in its display. Within a few
seconds she had her readout, and looked up to report: "It's breathable,
pressure lighter than we're used toтАФabout the same as Terran high
mountains."

The information was for the general report. They would still keep their
suits intact.

"Humanoids, just as Tau predicted," Rip said, sounding interested.
Then, "Let's get going."

Moving fast, they headed for the engine deck, finding no one dead or
alive on their way. Life support was still running, which indicated the ship
had some power left. When they reached the engine deck and found no
signs of tampering or presence, Rip nodded at Jasper, who almost dove at
the complicated engineering console.

"Let's head for the control deck," Rip suggested. They worked their way
forward, still finding no sign of occupancy. When they reached the control
hatch, Rip opened it and looked through. "No one here, either. Chances
are there's no one on board, then." He turned to Dane. "You check the
cargo hold and hydro. Doctor, check the galley and surgery."

Rael made her way back along the curved accessways toward the galley
and surgery. Her sleeprod was again clipped to her belt. In one hand she
held her diagnostic scanner, this time keyed to the heat sensors in the
unlikely case there was someone hiding in one of the storage areas.
 Nothing showed up, and she moved to the surgery console, and stopped
to look around. It was almost familiarтАФ the arrangement of cupboards
and slide tables was accessible to humans, but the organization was unlike
that which she was used to on most Terran Federation ships. She found a
computer console, and looked it over, again surprised by the unfamiliar