"Lee Edgar - Return to Andromeda" - читать интересную книгу автора (Edgar Lee)

Return
to
Andromeda
by Lee Edgar
dedicated to lovers everywhere


© Lee Edgar 1997


Originally Published and Printed by
RegentLane Ltd
Devonshire Road Industrial Estate
Millom, Cumbria LA18 4JS
All Rights Reserved by Bankside Publishing



Other books in this series
The Andromeda Burn
The Andromeda Seed
The Andromeda Trial
Andromeda Time




PROLOGUE
The Council of Ten filed into the Grand Palace in silence as yet another purple flash lit up the sky. One by
one, the members took their respective positions around the great marble table and were seated. A wisp of
dust rose as a piece of beautifully-decorated plaster fell from the ceiling and shattered into tiny fragments
when it struck the table. None of the Ten moved or flinched. It was too late for such pointless action. The
Finance Minister gently brushed the dust from his papers as the others watched the entrance to the inner
chamber. The ground shook again and one or two glanced around nervously as the building seemed to sway
with the tremor. As it ceased, the sound of the roaring reduced to a dull throb. The planet was dying.
‘Thank you for coming, my friends,’ said a newcomer as she stood framed by the blue curtains.
The Ten rose respectfully to their feet and watched as their ruler took up her position at the head of the
table.
‘Please be seated,’ she said pleasantly. ‘I apologise for calling you away from your families at a time such
as this.’
‘Your wish is our command,’ said the Agriculture Minister. There was a brief murmur of agreement.
‘I wish I could offer you some hope, my friends. However, I can do no more than thank you for all your
support during this time of severe crisis.’
‘Is it really the end, Your Majesty?’ asked the young man at the bottom of the table.
‘I fear so, Agar. Durandor has already been devoured by the black hole threatening our planet. We have very
little time left.’
‘Do we know precisely how long?’ he persevered.
The Queen looked at a short man and raised her eyebrow.
‘An estimated nine days, Your Majesty,’ confirmed the Minister of Science. ‘The quakes and storms are
expected to increase over that period until our atmosphere is drawn off. The end of all life will then be very