"E. E. Doc Smith - D' Alembert 5 -Appointment at Bloodstar" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith E. E. Doc)

"If he does well enough," Helena commented, "my father has a personal gift for you and
him, Yvette two round-trip tickets to Newforest."

Yvette turned away from the screen for a moment to stare at her friend openmouthed.
Newforest was Pias's home planet; he was the eldest son of that world's duke. Pias had
not been home for close to three years, ever since he had left to seek revenge for the
death of his former fiancee. Now Yvette would be returning with him in triumph, to meet
his family and share that much more a part of his life. "Oh Helena, I don't know what to
say."

"Then watch the screen and don't say anything. Father knew how grateful you'd be. It's
part of his thanks to you and Pias for saving my life on Sanctuary. And my thanks too,
of course."

Yvette looked back to the screen, where Pias was now immersed in water and looking
for a way out. It was Jules's turn to look at Helena. "I saved your life, too," he said with
mock jealousy. "Don't I get any paid vacations?"

"I think father has something in mind for you maybe not as much fun, but just as easy.
He'll be calling you in to tell you about it tomorrow. Now shut up and let me see how
Pias is making out."

The three young people watched and chortled triumphantly as their friend found his way
out through the pipe into the gravity chamber. As he made his tedious way to the exit,
all three were groaning in sympathy, shouting encouragement that they knew he could
not hear. When he finally made it through the portal, Yvette let out a small cheer. "Only
one more to go," she whispered. "Please don't let him be fooled."

They watched with bated breath as the final scene between Pias and his instructor
played itself out. As Pias grabbed the gun and turned it on Wilson, Yvette sagged in her
chair with visible relief. Helena leaned forward and punched at a row of buttons in the
console before her. Her screen went blank, and a moment later a series of numbers
appeared. "Would you like to see how he made out?" she asked her two friends.

"I'm almost afraid to," Yvette said, but she looked anyway. There were several rows of


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numbers on the screen, indicating Pias's scores on separate parts of the test. Yvette
ignored those and, instead, checked only the bottom line: "INTEGRATED SCORE:
994."

With a whoop of pure joy, Yvette bounded out of her chair and through the door leading
downstairs to the evaluation room where she could see her lover again. "I think we'd
better follow her," Jules said in a more restrained but still jubilant voice, "before she
hurts herself." He and Helena left the room at a saner pace, listening to the echoes of
Yvette's footsteps leading the way.