"John G. Hemry - Generation Gap" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hemry John G)

*Generation Gap*
by John G. Hemry
Different phases of life require different approaches. The hard part is knowing when --
and how -- to change.
--------
"Is it real?" From the observation deck of the Generation Ship _Terra_, a
compartment of cold, gray metal relieved only by wide display screens, the blue/
white/brown world below seemed like one more video simulation played out within the
confines of the ship's computer systems.
"It's real." Greg Tyre nodded toward the image. "I went to one of the airlocks, suited
up, and went Outside for a look. It's there."
Frowns creased brows all around him as the crowd reacted. "Was your walk
authorized?"
"Why does that...?" Greg bit off his reply as he saw the frowns deepening. "Yes. I'm a
ship maintenance and repair tech. I can authorize a walk whenever needed to examine
the hull. I determined it was needed."
Most of the frowns disappeared at the reassurance and attention returned to the
globe on the displays. Greg turned at a touch on his sleeve and saw Jane Fernandez had
come up next to him. She leaned close to whisper. "Oh, dear. You might have broken a
Rule, Mr. Tyre."
"Yeah," he murmured back. "Why get manic over that when we're looking at the
planet our great-grandparents set out to reach?"
His answer came not from Jane but from a large man who shook his head, eyes
narrow with disapproval. "Those Rules kept us alive and got us here, young man. Continue
conforming to them."
Greg smiled back at the man. "Yissur." The man glowered at the youthful slurring of
the respectful reply, made a clear show of reading Greg's nametag, then turned his back.
Greg felt a tug on his sleeve, following as Jane led the way out of the crowded
compartment. As they closed the hatch behind them, Jane pointed back inside, made a
gagging motion, then laughed. "I am going to be soooo glad to get off this thing. What do
you suppose it'll be like?"
"A planet? Like the simulations, I guess."
"Oh, get real. It's got to be different. Come on, let's go to Port One and watch the
screen there."
Port One, the first recreation lounge on the left side of the ship, displayed the same
image on its display screen. A crowd of young men and women were scattered at the
tables, eyeing the vision with rapt attention. "Hey, Jane. Greg," one hailed them. "It looks
like Earth, doesn't it?"
Jane shook her head. "Different land masses."
"I don't mean in _details_."
"Then don't ask a planetary geologist for an opinion." Jane laughed again as she took
a seat. "I still can't believe it. A real planet where I can actually practice geology."
Greg smiled and nodded. "Yeah. It's weird. We've been scheduled to arrive here
about this time ever since our great-grandparents set off. But it never seemed real, not
until we actually got here."
 "It still doesn't -- " Jane's reply was cut off by the image of the planet vanishing,
replaced by the Seal of the Community of _Terra_ Township and a loud fanfare of
trumpets. "Oh, hell. What's Mayor Magetry got to say?"
The community seal slowly faded in time to the trumpets, replaced by the lined face of
Mayor Magetry. Magetry looked slowly back and forth, as if scanning his audience, which