"ae2" - читать интересную книгу автора (Steele Allen)

On his way up the ladder, Gene paused on B-deck. The two
German astronaut-trainees were bent over the plotting table,






180

ALLEN STEELE

you've spent a lot of time trying to keep him out of jail.
right? Funny how nobody questions your patriotism or
you a security risk."
Parnell felt his face grow warm. "That's not the same t
Captain. . ."
"It isn't?" Ryer impatiently swept the hair out of her
She laced up the sneaker and reached for its mate. "It's
private business, something that stays at home. Right?
what I do stays at home, too. In fact, it had for almos
years, until someone saw me kiss my wife in a bar. T
became a security risk. . .
"Cris ...
"Yeah,okay ... you're right. Maybe we should just dro
She nodded toward a nearby bunk while she laced the
sneaker. "The TV queen is supposed to sleep over there
think she'll mind? I mean, she's really not my type, bu
never know about us queers ...
"Cut it out!" he snapped.
He heard Aachener and Talsbach abruptly go silen
didn't have to look behind him to know that they were st
in his direction. Parnell forced himself to calm do
wouldn't do any good for him to blow up at Ryer now.
"Look," he said, "let's go back to square one. We've g
jobs to do. Regardless of everything else, that's the first
ity. We can't go to the Moon and back snarling at each
... we're the guys in charge here. Got it?"
Ryer was about to retort, then apparently reconsidere
sighed, nervously flicking her hair away again; she didn'
his way. "Yeah. Okay. Got it."
"Good. So let's make a deal. You do your job, and I'l
off your case."
"Yeah, okay, Commander." She pulled the duffel bag
and began to dig into it. "Whatever you say. . . Christ, w
that cap?"
Parnell felt his temper rising once more. She wasavo
him again, and the silly-ass game was beginning to piss
off. He reached forward to grab the duffel bag, intendi
yank it aside so that she couldn't use it to escape the con