"Norton, Andre - Solar Queen 04 - Postmarked The Stars" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

cabin in time to strap down. Where? Van Ryke's was the nearest--up ladder.

His own body was the enemy he must fight. Dane was dimly aware of the struggle with the ladder, of half
falling through a cabin door, of reaching the bunk and dropping on it. Then he blacked out.

No dream now of wading through an adhesive swamp or veils of steam. There was a heavy pressure on his
chest, smothering him, a harsh rasping on his chin. Dane opened his eyes to stare into inquisitive feline
ones. Sinbad, ship's cat, nosed him again, kneaded his paws on Dane under his own portly frame with
vigor enough to bring a protest out of the man.

There was the familiar vibration, though. This was Sinbad. He had reached the Queen, and they were out in
space. A vast relief flooded through Dane.
Then, for the first time he was able to think farther than just reaching the ship before it lifted. He had gone
to make a registered pickup. And somewhere he had been jumped and robbed. Before or after he had made
the pickup? A new worry presented itself. If he had signed for it, then he, or rather the Queen, was
responsible for the loss. The sooner he reported to Captain Jellico, the better.

"Yes," he said aloud, pushing Sinbad away to sit up. "Got to see the Old Man--"

His first awakening in the inn had been tough. This was almost as bad. He had to hold onto the bunk and
close his eyes, not sure if he could move. There was the com on the wall. Get to that, call for help--
Poison? Could they--the mysterious they--or he--or it--who had initiated his attack have used poison on
him? Once before he had been so wracked, on Sargol, when, by native custom as a successful Gorp hunter,
he had shared a ceremonial drink--to pay for that compliance later. Tau--Medic Tau--

Dane set his teeth, grasped Van Ryke's file of micro films, which jutted conveniently from the wall, and
pulled himself up. He managed to jerk the mike from its hook, but when it came to thumbing the button for
sick bay, he could not be sure--they were a blur. He had to chance it.

Now that he was up, he was almost afraid to return to the bunk. The waves of sickness seemed less
overpowering when he was on his feet. Maybe if he tried now to get around--Besides, he had to report to
Jellico, must do that--

He heard a warning growl from Sinbad as his foot touched something soft. And the big cat, his dignity
injured by interference with his tail, slapped back, his claws grating on Dane's space boot.

"Sorry." Dane, trying to avoid the rest of Sinbad's bulk, staggered forward, out of the door, into the well of
the ladder. He held out groping hands for that. Captain--must report--

"What the--?"

Dane had not trodden on the head of the man climbing up, but it was a near thing. As with Sinbad, he tried
to avoid collision and swung out so far he would have fallen had not the newcomer caught him. Ali
Kamil's finely featured face swung back and forth in Dane's sight, but then the assistant engineer's tough
grip steadied him.

"Got--to--report," Dane said. "See--Captain--"

"What by the Five Names of Stayfol!" Kamil supported him back against the wall. His face was clear and
then blurred in Dane's sight.