"Vernor Vinge - Fast Times at Fairmont High" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vinge Vernor)

me. She and I collaborate a lot, but she thinks I'm some old
lady in Armonk.... Annette likes to gossip a lot about us kids,
and my тАШlittle old ladyтАЩ character plays along.тАЭ Bertie's voice
went high-pitched and quavery: тАЬтАШOh, that sweet Orozco boy,
I do think your friend Miriam would like him so.'тАЭ
Geez, Bertie!
They walked toward each other, step by painful step, until
they were almost in armsтАЩ reach. Juan had turned off all
imagery for a moment. Shed of fantasy, they were pretty
ordinary-looking kids: Annette the video-geek was short and
pimply-faced, with hair that hadn't seen a comb so far this
month. Miriam Gu was about three inches taller than Juan.
Too tall. Her skin was as dark as Juan's, but with a golden
undertone. Close-cut black hair framed a wide face and very
symmetrical features. She wore an expensive, Epiphany-
brand blouse. The high-rate laser ports were perfectly hidden
in the embroidery. Rich kids had clothes like this, usually with
broad gaming stripes. This blouse had no gaming stripes; it
was light and simple and probably had more computing power
than all the clothes Juan owned. You had to be sharp to wear
a shirt like this properly.
Just now, Miri looked as though she was tasting something
bad. You don't like what you see either, huh? But Miri got in
the first word: тАЬJuan Orozco. People say you're a clever kid,
quick with interfaces.тАЭ She paused and gave a little shrug.
тАЬSo, wanna collaborate on the local exam?тАЭ
16
 Fast Times at Fairmont High
by Vernor Vinge


Bertie pulled a monstrous face at her, and Juan realized
that Bertie was sending only to him. тАЬOkay,тАЭ said Bertie, тАЬjust
be nice, Juan. Say how you were thinking she and you would
make a team with grade points right from the start.тАЭ
The words caught in Juan's throat. Miriam Gu was just too
much. тАЬMaybe,тАЭ he replied to her. тАЬDepends on what you can
bring to it. Talents? Ideas?тАЭ
Her eyes narrowed. тАЬI have both. In particular, my project
concept is a killer. It really could make Fairmont Schools тАШthe
rose of North County'.тАЭ That was the school board's phrase.
The Alcalde and the board wanted these local projects to
show that Fairmont was a good neighbor, not like some of the
schools in Downtown and El Cajon.
Juan shrugged. тАЬWell, um, that's good. We'd be the kind of
high-contrast team the Alcalde likes.тАЭ I really don't want to do
this. тАЬLet's talk about it more some time.тАЭ
Annette the video-geek put in: тАЬThat won't do at all! You
need to team up soonest!тАЭ She flickered through various pop-
culture images as she spoke, finally settled on the heroine