"Allen Steele - Kronos" - читать интересную книгу автора (Steele Allen)

lunar colonists is an embarrassment, not a heritage. Even the Christ clan, which has embraced
neo-Mormonism instead of the extropic philosophies of the Superior families which have migrated to the
outer system, were condescending toward their Primary captain; his weaknesses were forgiven, but not
easily forgotten.

Kinnard has been captain of this vessel for three years now. He has come to trust his crew, and
believes that they trust him. But their differences are more broad than their similarities, and he never
permits himself to forget this fact.

"Very well." Kinnard loosens his seat straps as he rotates it to face the bow windows. "Isidore, initiate
rollover maneuver. Jon, finalize trajectories for Saturn atmospheric refueling and Titan rendezvous.
Cayenne, ship status?"

"All systems nominal, sir. A full report is on your screen." Cayenne Christ-Caswell doesn't resort to
the broken-English patois most Superiors use when they're not in the presence of Primaries. Even after
two voyages with her, Kinnard still doesn't know whether he should be complimented or insulted.

Kinnard calls up the report and pretends to study it, but cannot help looking up as Intrepid turns
end-over-end until its bow is pointed toward Saturn. Even at the distance of twelve million kilometers,
the planet fills the deck's portals. He involuntarily sucks in his breath as the ringed giant glides into view.
He has twice been to Mars and--during the short-lived Callisto Station insurrection, which Intrepid
helped put down--even the Jovian system, yet even Jupiter's vast and terrible beauty pales next to the
serene majesty of its cousin. No photo, film, or VR simulation he has ever seen has prepared him for this
first glimpse of its intricate rings, nor the dull yellow-orange bands of its cloud patterns.

A hushed silence falls upon the deck as his crew takes in the spectacle. "Kronos," Isidore
Christ-Ortega murmurs, using--as common practice among Superiors--the ancient Greek name for the
planet. "She is beautiful, eh?"

Kinnard smiles. Considering Superior stoicism, his first officer's reaction is a small wonder in itself.
Yet understandable; Intrepid is only the second crewed vessel to venture this far into the outer system.
His people are among a rare handful to see Saturn through naked eyes, bio-enhanced or otherwise...

And no one knows what happened to the first group of visitors.

This thought brings Kinnard back to the present. "Okay, let's get back to work." he says. "Plenty of
time for sightseeing later." He catches Jon's eve and favors him with a wink. "Specially you, navco. You
get the fun part."

For this, he is rewarded with the fleeting grin. Jon Christ-Caswell can't wait for the challenge before
him. This is noticed by Cayenne, who lapses into google-speak. "Cut you no tether now," she warns her
first-husband. "This ship not built for joyriding boyshit, hey?"

"Ease off the feedback, fem." Jon turns back to his console. "We copy, over."

Kinnard ignores this as he reluctantly unbuckles his harness. "Marie, have you received anything from
Hershel Explorer?"

"Word nyet, Captain." Slender wires leading from the back of Marie Christ-Ortega's skull drift about
her braided black hair as she shakes her head distractedly. Her eyes are unfocused; her brain's