"Norton, Andre - Redline the stars" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

the thought of any changes this potentially disruptive re-
cruit might bring about.

Recruit! Cofort had not even been invited to join the
crew. She had bludgeoned her way in with that blasted

charter.

Memory rose to Thorson's mind, and his irritation

ebbed. He had not been with the Queen so long that he
could not remember his fears and feelings during his own
first days aboard. This woman might be older and fully
accredited in her specialty, but he did not believe she
would be entirely immune to at least some of the same
emotions that had made his initiation such a misery for
him. He would be a proper bastard if he added to her trials
with a show of causeless hostility.

No, he told himself decisively, in all fairness and all
humanity she would have to be given her chance, maybe
several of them, but let her prove a source of trouble, let her
even begin to try to destroy what they had here . . .

The panel slid.open, and Rael Cofort stepped into the

RedlinetheStais 33

corridor. She gave him a quick smile. "All set," she told
him. "I'm now an official--"

A shriek as loud and teeth-jarring as a civilian attack
alert silenced her. Even out here they could hear Jellico
slamming the bottom of the cage, setting it bouncing vio-
lently, but for once this usually sovereign remedy had no
effect. The siren wail continued undiminished.

Thorson winced. "I wonder how much of that the old
man can take. Or Queex, for that matter. It's a wonder that
jostling doesn't scramble his brains."

The woman laughed. "Hardly! He loves it."

"He'd have to be even odder than he looks to enjoy
taking a beating."

She looked at him strangely. "You haven't read up on
hoobats?"

"I'm afraid not. I've been too busy studying the finer