"David Weber & Linda Evans - Bolos" - читать интересную книгу автора (Weber David)

excitement: What if something goes wrong? Something always goes
wrong on a project this big, not just little stuff like Tommie Watkins
getting his nose bloodied by Sarah Pilford, but really big stuff, and IтАЩm
the one on the hotseat. . . .
Tillie wasnтАЩt trained in Project Administration. She just happened to
be good at organizing things, had a knack for solving problems and
soothing tempers, andтАФcoincidentallyтАФwas married to the Phase I
Colony Director. She also held Phase IIтАЩs only veterinary sciences
degree.
So Tillie Matson had, by popular acclaim and logical choice, been
chosen to lead this misfit band of farmers, educators, agricultural
production specialists, wide-eyed kids, irritable nanny goats, sweating
horses, balking cattle, and screaming chickens onto Star Cross for a two-
week Hyper-L voyage.
She wished someone else had been elected mayor.
But she wasnтАЩt about to reveal how genuinely scared she was. So, with
her idiotic grin, her sheen of nervous sweat, and her badge, Tillie stepped
onto the transportтАЩs deckplates. A freckled young crewman in a crisp
uniform grinned when he saw her. Tillie greeted him with her widest
smile and firmest handshake.
тАЬIтАЩm Tillie Matson, thank you for meeting us like this.тАЭ
тАЬKelly McTavish, maтАЩam, and welcome aboard the Star Cross. IтАЩm the
Passenger Steward.тАЭ His smile was bright and genuine, same as his
carroty hair. тАЬIf you have that passenger list, maтАЩam, IтАЩll double check it
against mine and weтАЩll be set to board your people. Booker Howard,
down in Cargo One, is ready to onload bio-specimens.тАЭ
Tillie hid a smile, wondering if Booker HowardтАЩs experience with
тАЬbio-specimensтАЭ was up to irascible goat temperaments. Even crated,
they could be a handful. She handed over the micro-crystal wafer with
their personnel roster. Kelly McTavish scanned it, ran a compare, then
nodded. тАЬVery good, maтАЩam. And your transfer authorities for the bio-
specimens are here, too. ItтАЩs all in order. Welcome aboard, Dr. Matson. If
I might suggest it . . . Allow me to handle onloading the passengers.
YouтАЩd maybe better help Book with the animals?тАЭ
Tillie didnтАЩt bother to hide this smile. тАЬI think so, yes. My brood mares
are pretty broody just now, even with the tranks I gave them. They donтАЩt
like to travel. Particularly not while theyтАЩre in foal. IтАЩd hate for them to
injure themselves trying to get out of the crates. And the goats are even
worse.тАЭ
тАЬThat,тАЭ Kelly McTavish gave her a broad grin and a wink, тАЬis why I
stick to handling people. All my passengers generally do is scream at
me.тАЭ
She laughed and used her com-link to let Itami Kobe, her second-in-
command, know the drill; then made her way to Cargo One. They hadnтАЩt
left space port yet, but she felt better already. Soon, she promised her
lonely heart, soon youтАЩll be back with Carl again and everything will be
perfect.

Hal Abrams wasnтАЩt one to run from a fight.
Shucks, heтАЩd been a combat engineer in Space ArmтАФand earned