"Timothy Zahn - Spinneret" - читать интересную книгу автора (Zahn Timothy)

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Zahn, Timothy - Spinneret


"No problem," Meredith assured him, making a mental note to set up new
guidelines on such things. "What can I do for you?"

"Well, sir, I've been trying to arrange for a flyer and pilot to run me out to Mt.
Olympus, but everyone I've talked to says the flyers have been grounded."

"You haven't heard about the crash?" Meredith asked sourly.

"Yes, sir, I have; and I'm sorry about the loss of its crew. But everything I've
heard indicates the accident was a fluke, some aberration of the plasma itself and
not an actual equipment malfunctionтАФ"

"Whoa. An aberration caused by what?"

"Maybe a rogue solar flare or somethingтАФ/ don't know. The point is it's very
unlikely the other flyers would run into the same problem."

"Unlikely's not good enough," Meredith said, shaking his head. "Until we have a
better idea of what went wrong you'll just have to make do with cars or the
Cessnas."

"Neither of which will be of much use," Hafner sighed. "I understand your
concern, Colonel, but please recognize I'm not talking about some abstract search
for knowledge here. Astra has got to have some metal somewhere, and if it's not in
the crust it must be deeper down. If volcanos like Olympus show any evidence at
all of metal content in their rocks, it'll offer a reasonable alternative to the asteroid
mining you have planned."

Meredith held up a hand. "Doctor, it's late and I've had a very hard day. If you'll
file a formal request with Martello Base, you'll be put on the list for whenever the
flyers are put back into service. Until then, I repeat, the cars and planes are all we
have." A footstep behind him made him turn: Andrews, back from returning their
car to the pool. "Now, if you'll excuse us," he added, "Lieutenant Andrews will
escort you out. Good night, Doctor."

Hafner grimaced slightly, but had the sense not to argue. "Good night, Colonel.

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Zahn, Timothy - Spinneret


Thank you for your time."

The geologist left, followed closely by Andrews. Unlocking his office door,
Meredith ushered in Carmen and waved her to a seat. "Now," he said, sinking into