"Michelle Levigne - Sunsinger Chronicles Book 01 - Sunsinger" - читать интересную книгу автора (Levigne Michelle)

“Bain Kern—I mean, Chobainian Kern, Ma'am.”

“What do your parents do?”

“Ma'am, they're dead.” Bain tried to keep his voice soft, so it wouldn't sound like he was correcting her.
He didn't want to make a Spacer captain angry.
“Well.” She softened her voice. “Sorry, I forgot. What did they do before they died?”

“We had a shuttle, and my father transported supplies and passengers between the farms and the
factories.”

“Were you training to be a pilot?” Lin smiled, but it wasn't a teasing smile. Bain decided he liked her.

“I want to be a Spacer, Ma'am. My grandparents were Spacers, until they settled here.”

“Oh?” She frowned a little, but Bain didn't think she was angry. “What were their names?”

“Lissa and Dan Kern.”

“What was your grandmother's maiden name?”

“I don't know.”

“All the family records were destroyed when their shuttle crashed,” Governor Cowrun offered. “They
never registered with the authorities, and they lived on their ship. You know how Spacers are.”

“I do indeed,” Lin said with a grin. She winked at Bain, surprising him. “Well, Cowrun, I have to talk
over your request with Ganfer, but I think he'll have no trouble with this job.”

“Ganfer wasn't my worry,” the man muttered. He earned a chuckle from Lin. Their teasing surprised
Bain—lately, all adults were grumpy, arguing about the smallest problems.

“I do have a few conditions,” Lin added.

“Of course.” A broad smile crossed his face.

“First, you make as few modifications toSunsinger as possible. No fancy little rooms, no teaching
computers, no robot nurses on my ship.” Lin ticked off items on her fingers as she spoke. “The flight is
going to be fast, and some children get space-sick when they hit free-fall. Just new insulation and seals in
the cargo holds, net bunks and stasis seats—that's all they need.

“Next, I don't want all babies. I want a wide range of ages. The older children can take care of the littles,
so we'll get more orphans off planet. Fewer interfering adults on my ship.” Lin studied Bain as she spoke.
Her look made him feel cold inside. He couldn't breathe for a few seconds.

“Last,” Lin said, putting her hand on his shoulder, “this boy goes in the first load I take.”

“I think that can be arranged.” Cowrun nodded at Bain, and his smile grew wider.