"FWLS7" - читать интересную книгу автора (A Future We'd Like to See)

*

"What took you?" a Ytt in a black leather jacket asked
Hammock as he reentered.

"Oh, just had to negotiate a bit," Hammock said. "Alain,
Clara, this is Malykk, well-respected dimension theorist from
Yttia. He'll be accompanying us on our little trip. Driver, if
you'd please take us to orbit and kick in the warp/hyperdrive?"

The hovership lifted off, rapidly ascending the skies of
Terra. The engine must have cost a great deal, considering that
in the time it takes to say this sentence we were in the stars
and on our way.

"You still haven't said where this 'trip' is going," Malykk
grumbled, adjusting his sunglasses.

"All in good time, all in good time," Hammock said. "Care
for a little bag of honey roasted peanuts?"

"Err, no, thank you," I declined. "I was just noticing your
cane, Hammock. That's an interesting relic, the snowglobe. I'm
wondering how you got it, since all such novelty items didn't
survive the great Home Shopping Network revolt of '02?"

"I had it constructed in miniature from plans I acquired for
a sum of credits," Hammock said. "We spared no expense."

"We?"

"You shall soon see."

*

The hovership skimmed the treetops of the small circling
Moon Nebulae (noted for being green, pleasant, and orbiting a
totally unimpressive planet), pausing occasionally over an oddly-
fenced area.

"Seems none of them are out at the moment," Hammock said,
glancing out a window. "A pity, but I guess you'll see plenty on
the tour."

"What's that guy down there with the briefcase?" Malykk
asked, peering out the window over his glasses.

Curious, I walked over to the window, jaw dropping.