"Kevin O'Donnel Jr. - The Journeys of McGill Feighan 03 - Lava" - читать интересную книгу автора (O'Donnell Jr Kevin)

"Thanks!" The receiver clattered down; Feighan replaced his own with a
puzzled frown.
He sent the crates to RiiтАФedsch when the clock down-counted to zero,
then called back his crossword puzzle.
Flinging was a lot like driving a bus that went nowhere.
At the end of his first shift, he stepped into the hall. Yawning, and
stretching the kinks out of his back, he looked around for someone to talk to.
The long hall was empty, but from the Flingers' Lounge fifty meters
down came grumbling voices. That hooked him; he started walking. The
Lounge was rarely used: most Flingers found it easier to pop home for their
four off.
Inside, fifteen or twenty of the North American Consortium's first-line
teleports clustered around an oversized display screen. Jaws and fists were
clenched; angry mutters bounced around the room. The anger focused on
the text and numbers scrolling up the screen.
"Hi, McGill." A hand touched his shoulder; lips pecked his cheek.
"Hey, great!" He smiled, and hugged Gina Maccari, the staff telepath. "I
thought you were on vacation."
She took his hand. "Come on." Leading him a few doors down the
corridor from the Lounge, she said, "I hate to meet and run, but there's too
much hostility in thereтАФit's starting to get to me."
"Well, listenтАФ" He slipped his arm around her waist. "I know a nice quiet
restaurantтАФ"
She snuggled against him. "I'd love to, but I can't. Director Davis wants
me in his office quote right now end quote. How about tonight?"
She felt warm and good and he wanted to hold her forever. "I don't get off
till ten, if you don't mind a late dinner."
"That's fine, as long as it's an early eveningтАФI got rescheduled. My shift
starts at 6:00 tomorrow."
"A.m.?"
"Uh-huh."
"You poor thing. An early evening it will be." He drew her close and
kissed her forehead. "I'll pick you upтАФoh, nuts! Why don't you meet me at
my place at ten? I've got a visitor, an ActuniтАФever met one?"
"H'nik?"
"You know him?"
She smiled wearily. "I gave him directions to your place this morning."
She glanced at her watch. "And I really have to goтАФsee you at your place at
ten tonight."
"Let me give you a hand." He closed his eyesтАФ
"No!" Prodding him in the ribs, she winked. "No offense, but I'd rather
walk." She blew him a kiss, turned, and ran down the corridor. The hem of
her skirt flipped up with each move.
He shook his head and sighed, then went back into the Lounge to see
what had so upset his colleagues. Greystein vociferated in the midst of a
knot of them, but Feighan did not feel like talking to him just then. He
looked around for someone else.
"How do, McGill," said an Arizonan from behind.
He spun. "Hi, Walking Mule." He shook hands with the Senior Flinger
who had trained him in interstellar teleportation four years earlier. "What's