"William Forstchen - Into the Sea of Stars" - читать интересную книгу автора (Forstchen William R)

good man.You're to be out of here Tuesday morning. By the way, are your passport and
twenty-three-forty-four medicalform up to date?"

"My twenty-three-forty-four?"

A glint of suspicion appeared in the Chancellor's eyes.He examined Ian as if he were an insect under a
magni-fying glass.

"Wake up, man, wake up. Your twenty-three-forty-four!"

"Sir, what is a twenty-three-forty-four?" Ian bleated.

"Good God, man, don't you understand what I'm talk-ing about?" Exasperated, the Chancellor opened
his at-tache case and pulled out a heavy document, bound in ared jacket. There was a quick flurry of
pages and theChancellor started to read.

" 'All members of the party must qualify for translighttravel by successfully undergoing a full
twenty-three-forty-four medical review.' Dr. Lacklin, you wrote thatin the grant proposal, or don't you
remember? It's stan-dard medical policy for anyone traveling aboard the newtranslight vessels."

"I'm traveling translight!" Ian shouted in terror.

The Chancellor stood up to his full six-and-a-half-footheight and advanced around the desk. He loomed
overIan as if he were closing in for the kill, and Ian slippedlower into his seat.

"Dr. Lacklin, do you understand anything at all con-cerning what we've been talking about?"

Ian tried to sound self-assured, but only a mousy "no"squeaked out of him.

A forefinger was suddenly pointed into lan's chest andwith each word spoken the Chancellor stabbed at
Ian withsuch force that Ian feared a rib might be broken.

"Dr. Lacklin, at the beginning of this semester a grantproposal left the history department under your
signature.Your department, and your signature, Dr. Lacklin. And this document was addressed to the
Department of DeepSpace Survey and Exploration. Last year the DSSE an nounced that an Alpha 3
translight survey ship would be released from active service and placed at the disposal of the Ministry of
Education, and grant proposals would beaccepted as to its implementation and use. Do you followme so
far, Dr. Lacklin?"

"Yes."

"You are aware, of course, Dr. Lacklin, that we haveonly returned to space within the last hundred years
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and that translight was only discovered within the last fifteenyears. I am sure, Dr. Lacklin, that you realize
that there are only eleven translight ships available, and the Alpha3 is the first such model."