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

made a mistake, you came down upon me like a ton of hot bricks and you almost had me thrown off the
Wayfarer Programme because I made one or two minor errors. In the end, I trusted you and copied you
because it was a field where you knew best. However, when it come to human nature I think I know best.’
‘I...’
‘Shut up and listen. Those men on the shuttle were sent to eliminate us. The last thing General Phillips
wants right now is a continuation of space exploration, not when it is at the expense of his precious defence
programme. He doesn’t care how many people get killed in the process as long as he gets own his way, you
above anyone should know that by now.’ He paused and then said in a quieter tone. ‘If we had let his men
live, what do you think they would have done?’
Cassi shrugged. ‘Gone to Orion?’
 ‘Precisely. And when they radioed down to the General and told him the goose had flown, what do you
think he would have ordered them to do?’
‘Arrest my father?’
‘Exactly. At his age and with his aversion to Earth’s atmospheric pressure after years in space, how long
do you think he will have lasted?’
She looked down at the neoprene-covered deck. ‘Not long.’
‘No, not long at all. Now, we have given him a temporary lease of life. You have proved to me your worth in
space and so has Lyn, but you have to trust me to get something right occasionally.’ He smiled. ‘After all, I
am only human.’
Cassi looked up quickly and her eyes instinctively closed to slits.
‘Sorry,’ he said defensively. ‘Poor choice of words.’
‘You’re never going to let me forget, are you? You take every little chance to remind me I am not the same
as you.’
‘Neither is your sister but I was happy to marry her.’
‘That’s different.’
‘Different? How?’
‘She has chosen to become your wife and, because of her Andromedan ancestry, she will obey you without
question, you know that.’
‘Well, Cassiopeia Hardy, perhaps you should take a lesson from her. As long as I am in charge of this
mission and you are on my ship, what I say goes, do you understand?’
Cassi opened her mouth to speak but changed her mind and drew back her shoulders. ‘Yes, Commander.’
‘Furthermore, let’s have no more sloppiness. It’s not like you. So behave yourself or else when we get to
Andromeda, I will leave you there, black hole or no black hole.’
For a moment, Cassi looked at him so coldly that Steve thought she was going to hit him before he
remembered that such an action would be virtually impossible for her. Instead, they simply faced each other
in silence. Eventually, he held out his hand to her. ‘Pax?’
She looked down at it for a long time without moving.
‘Come on, Cassi,’ he reasoned. ‘We’ve got a long way to go together.’
Slowly, she took it and Steve drew in his breath sharply. He had forgotten her supreme strength and tried
desperately not to show his discomfort. Then, without warning, Cassi suddenly grinned, stretched forward and
kissed his cheek.
‘And what are you two being up to?’ called a voice from down the corridor. They both turned to watch the
dark-haired woman of about thirty approach them.
‘Doctor Carrero,’ said Steve defensively.
Cassi smiled warmly and nodded her greeting. ‘Juanita.’
The astro-biologist leaned forward conspiratorially. ‘Don’t a-you worry. Your little secret is-a safe with me.’
Steve blustered. ‘Doctor Carrero. It’s not what you think.’
‘It never is,’ she replied, winking at Cassi. ‘Is everyone okay after all’a that pitching and rolling?’
Cassi looked down at the floor. ‘I’m afraid that was my fault. I was...’ She looked up at Steve. ‘...distracted.
It won’t happen again.’