"Doohan, James & Stirling, S M - Flight Engineer 02 - The Privateer 1.0" - читать интересную книгу автора (Doohan James)

But waiting in an office for an appointment was just dead time. It made
her think guiltily of reports that she should be working on, or
frustratedly of things she wanted to check on her craft, or her equipment.
She put both feet flat on the floor, tapped her toes for awhile, then
crossed her legs. There was a muted chime and the captain's voice said:
"Send Lt. Commander James in now, Lieutenant."

James and the secretary looked at each other with Thank God! written on
both their faces. Sarah rose and tugged at her midnight blue uniform,
brushed one hand through her short auburn curls, then with a nod to the
lieutenant she walked to the door and entered the eagle's nest.

Captain Roger Knott's craggy features did put one in mind of an eagle.
Especially the piercing glare of his pale eyes and his aquiline beak of a
nose. Right now she was getting the full value of that famous glare of
his. He returned her crisp salute more casually and indicated a chair
before his desk.

"Have a seat," he said.

"Thank you, sir."

Knott studied her for a moment. He saw a competent young woman in her mid
twenties, with a lean intelligent face and warm, sherry brown eyes. He
liked James, he trusted her work, and he wasn't especially happy about the
reason that brought her here.

Ordinarily he wouldn't be taking appointments this late in the day. But he
needed distraction from Grettirson's board of inquiry and he saw no reason
to keep either the lieutenant commander or himself in suspense regarding
her request.

"This is sudden," he said, tapping the document displayed on the screen
built into his desk.

"I've been considering it for several weeks, Captain, and this seemed like
an excellent time to request a change of this nature."

Knott raised his brows and leaned back in his chair.

"It does?"

"Yes, sir." Sarah leaned forward. "There are a number of vacancies in the
Speed squadron and I'm a qualified Speed pilot."

"You haven't flown a Speed in four years, Commander," Knott demurred.

Sarah nodded. "But I've hardly been in dry dock, sir. I'm prepared to take
a simulation exam." She met Knott's eyes calmly and when he nodded she
went on. "In addition, there's a pilot officer on Ontario Base that's