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

"Yes, I am a professor of space history," Ian replied,trying to sound insulted over such a simple question.

"Good. I wasn't sure on that point." The Chancellorcut him an icy gaze.

"The Alpha 3 was to be retired," Ian interjected. "Thedamn thing is unsafe; all the other ships of the same
designhave never returned."

"Not to worry." And the Chancellor laughed. "I'vebeen assured that little problem has been cleared up.
But as I was telling you, Dr. Lacklin, the grant proposalunder your signature requested use of that vehicle
and,I quote, 'to attempt reestablishment of contact with theseven hundred colonies that abandoned
near-Earth spaceon the eve of the Holocaust War. This will be accomplished by consulting those
surviving records, recentlyuncovered, which indicate the courses of the colonies.Using translight
propulsion it will be a simple matter offollowing the original courses and thus overtaking theunits,'
unquote."

The Chancellor fixed Ian with a deadly, penetratinggaze. "Dr. Lacklin, did you write this grant
proposal?"

Ian looked up and started to answer.

"The truth, Dr. Lacklin, or you'll regret it!"

"No." His answer came out as a timid squeak.

In exasperation the Chancellor slammed the proposalonto lan's desk. A flurry of dust swirled around the
twomen. The Chancellor suddenly reached across the table,grabbed hold of the proposal, and threw it
into lan'slap.

"Then look at this, damn it!"

Ian picked it up and, adjusting his glasses, he peeredowllike at the cover.

" 'A proposal for the implementation of the Alpha 3unit for the reestablishment of contact with colonial
unitsof the twenty-first century, submitted by Dr. Ian Lacklin,Provincial University System.' "

Ian suddenly felt very sick.

He pulled open the proposal and started to scan it.

"Turn to the last page, damn you!"

Ian obeyed the shouted command.



Proposed Crewing of the Alpha 3 Discovery
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