"Timothy Zahn - Outbound Flight" - читать интересную книгу автора (Zahn Timothy)

Outbound Flight

By

TIMOTHY ZAHN
1

The light freighter Bargain Hunter moved through
space, silver-gray against the blackness, the light of the distant
stars reflecting from its hull. Its running lights were muted, its
navigational beacons quiet, its viewports for the most part as
dark as the space around it.

Its drive gunning for all it was worth.

тАЬHang on!тАЭ Dubrak Qennto barked over the straining
roar of the engines. тАЬHere he comes again!тАЭ

Clenching his teeth firmly together to keep them from
chattering, Jorj CarтАЩdas got a grip on his seatтАЩs armrest with one
hand as he finished punching coordinates into the nav computer
with the other. Just in time; the Bargain Hunter jinked hard to
the left as a pair of brilliant green blaster bolts burned past the
bridge canopy. тАЬCarтАЩdas?тАЭ Qennto called. тАЬSnap it up, kid.тАЭ

тАЬIтАЩm snapping, IтАЩm snapping,тАЭ CarтАЩdas called back,
resisting the urge to point out that the outmoded nav equipment
was QenntoтАЩs property, not his. As was the lack of diplomacy and
common sense that had gotten them into this mess in the first
place. тАЬCanтАЩt we just talk to them?тАЭ

тАЬTerrific idea,тАЭ Qennto bit out. тАЬBe sure to compliment
Progga on his fairness and sound business sense. That always
works on Hutts.тАЭ

The last word was punctuated by another cluster of
blaster shots, this group closer than the last. тАЬRak, the engines
canтАЩt hold this speed forever,тАЭ Maris Ferasi warned from the
copilotтАЩs seat, her dark hair flashing with green highlights every
time a shot went past.

тАЬDoesnтАЩt have to be forever,тАЭ Qennto said with a grunt.
тАЬJust till we have some numbers. CarтАЩdas?тАЭ

On CarтАЩdasтАЩs board a light winked on. тАЬReady,тАЭ he
called, punching the numbers over to the pilotтАЩs station. тАЬItтАЩs not
a very long jump, thoughтАФтАЭ

He was cut off by a screech from somewhere aft, and
the flashing blaster bolts were replaced by flashing starlines as