"Lee Edgar - The Andromeda Trial" - читать интересную книгу автора (Edgar Lee)

‘By the time any of you lot qualify,’ she said slowly and evenly: ‘The whole
procedure will be automatic. Once they attain geosynchronous orbit, shuttles will be
guided in by tractor beam and on-board computers will control the retros to bring the
speed down from thirty thousand to eleven thousand kilometres per hour.’
A buzz broke out until someone had the courage to ask: ‘Then why are we here?’
‘You are here because the Europa Corporation has the foresight to realise that space
exploration does not stop at the moon. It was rather hoped that some of you might
qualify before Wayfarer Three is finished and become part of her crew. At this rate, I
shall be taking her to Antares on my own.’
There was a silence for a while until Janine spoke. ‘You flew in Wayfarer One, didn’t
you, Miss?’
Cassi relaxed and smiled at the girl who was short and skinny and, in her jeans and
tee-shirt, looked no more than fourteen years old. ‘Yes, I did. As a matter of fact, I
was born on board Wayfarer Two on the way back from Andromeda.’
The two of them were still looking at each other when the buzzer went; ending their
session. Cassi smiled again. This girl, the youngest of the group, was by far the
brightest. However, she did have a hang-up about working with others. In a group, she
retired deep into the darkest recess of her shell.
 Without turning her head, Cassi called out; ‘Neil!’
The untidy youth ambled over. ‘You rang?’
‘Six-thirty tomorrow morning - in the gym.’
He grinned. ‘Need a good seeing to?’
She straightened to her full five-foot-six and looked him almost straight in the eye.
‘You’d have to catch me first.’
‘What about my mates?’
Cassi smiled. ‘The more the merrier.’
Janine slowly got to her feet as Neil departed. ‘You don’t mean it, do you, Miss?’
‘Mean what?’
‘About meeting him in the gym.’
‘Why don’t you come, too?’
The young girl looked horrified. ‘But they have been talking about you all month
since the course began. Neil said he’d love to...’
‘Give me a good seeing to?’
She nodded. ‘Something like that.’
‘And you think he’d really try and do it? Some lads are all mouth, you know.’
Janine shook her head furiously. ‘No, he means it. I...’
Cassi frowned. ‘Is there something I ought to know? Has he...?’
‘Oh, no, Miss. He..’
‘He tried though, didn’t he?’
The younger girl looked down at the floor. ‘I feel so ashamed.’
Cassi lifted Janine’s chin with the tip of her long index finger. ‘Being a virgin is
not a disease. It’s highly sensible in this day and age.‘
The younger girl swallowed. ‘How did you know?’
Cassi smiled. ‘I asked Dr Carrero. You are the only member of the group who hasn’t
asked to be HIV tested. That suggests that you are capable of behaving yourself and
have nothing to fear from STDs.’
The young girl beamed. ‘You approve?’
Cassi nodded. ‘I approve. See you bright and early in the morning.’

CASSI changed out of her flight-suit in the changing room and locked the classroom