"Robert A. Heinlein - Orphans of the Sky " - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

UNIVERSE



The Proxima Centauri Expedition, sponsored by the Jordan Foundation in
2119, was the first recorded attempt to reach the nearer stars of this galaxy.
Whatever its unhappy fate we can only conjecture.—Quoted from The
Romance of Modern Astrography, by Franklin Buck, published by Lux
Transcriptions, Ltd., 3.50 cr.



„THERE’S A MUTIE! Look out!“
At the shouted warning, Hugh Hoyland ducked, with nothing to spare. An
egg-sized iron missile clanged against the bulkhead just above his scalp with
force that promised a fractured skull. The speed with which he crouched had
lifted his feet from the floor plates. Before his body could settle slowly to the
deck, he planted his feet against the bulkhead behind him and shoved. He
went shooting down the passageway in a long, flat dive, his knife drawn and
ready.
He twisted in the air, checked himself with his feet against the opposite
bulkhead at the turn in the passage from which the mutie had attacked him,
and floated lightly to his feet. The other branch of the passage was empty.
His two companions joined him, sliding awkwardly across the floor plates.
„Is it gone?“ demanded Alan Mahoney.
„Yes,“ agreed Hoyland. „I caught a glimpse of it as it ducked down that hatch.
A female, I think. Looked like it had four legs.“
„Two legs or four, we’ll never catch it now,“ commented the third man.
„Who the Huff wants to catch it?“ protested Mahoney.
„I don’t.“
„Well, I do, for one,“ said Hoyland. „By Jordan, if its aim had been two inches
better, I’d be ready for the Converter.“
„Can’t either one of you two speak three words without swearing?“ the third
man disapproved. „What if the Captain could hear you?“ He touched his
forehead reverently as he mentioned the Captain.
„Oh, for Jordan’s sake,“ snapped Hoyland, „don’t be so stuffy, Mort Tyler.
You’re not a scientist yet. I reckon I’m as devout as you are; there’s no grave
sin in occasionally giving vent to your feelings. Even the scientists do it. I’ve
heard ‚em.“
Tyler opened his mouth as if to expostulate, then apparently thought better of
it. Mahoney touched Hoyland on the arm. „Look, Hugh,“ he pleaded, „let’s get
out of here. We’ve never been this high before. I’m jumpy; I want to get back
down to where I can feel some weight on my feet.“
Hoyland looked longingly toward the hatch through which his assailant had
disappeared while his hand rested on the grip of his knife, then be turned to
Mahoney. „OK, kid,“ he agreed, „It’s along trip down anyhow.“
He turned and slithered back toward the hatch, whereby they had reached
the level where they now were, the other two following him. Disregarding the
ladder by which they had mounted, he stepped off into the opening and
floated slowly down to the deck fifteen feet below, Tyler and Mahoney close