"C. Sanford Lowe & G. David Nordley - The Small Pond" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lowe C Sanford)

division. The door wouldn’t open. She groaned, then wiped her hand and the handle
to aid the ancient fingerprint recognition system’s ability to recognize her paw.
It still wouldn’t open.
A soft beep sounded that only the person standing in front of the door could
hear. Liz touched the net for admin.
I am sorry, but you are not authorized entry to this office, came the reply.
Of course I am! Liz sent. I’m Elizabeth Avonford and this is my office. For a
while, anyway ... Her stomach tightened as she realized what had happened. Chaos!
It had only been ten lousy hours!
A young man, a tall blond, came down the hall toward her, followed by a
cartload of boxes. As he reached her, he smiled winningly and stuck out his hand.
“David Levi.” He pronounced it dah-FEED leh-VEE. “A visitor already! As
you see, I haven’t moved in yet.”
“It’s my office,” Liz said, knowing she was wrong.
Levi stared at her.
Liz sighed, deflated. “At least it was. I think my stuff is still in there.”
“Oh, dear.” Levi looked concerned. “Let’s see.”
He put this hand on the pad and the door opened. The office was bare.
“Damn!” Liz said. She’d only had it for three years, and most of that time
she’d been in space. Still, there were memories—her first real job.
She looked at the wall where the pictures of her family had hung. The empty
shelves that had held a few precious real books. Even her snow kitten doll was gone.
Levi looked mortified. “I’m sorry, I ... They just assigned it.”
Liz shook her head and wiped away a tear. “It’s not your fault. I’m sure the
service robots have stashed my things somewhere.” She composed herself. “Well,
what do you do?”
“Bionanotechnology. I got my doctorate at Jerusalem United fifteen years ago
and finally got a position.” He stepped aside and the cart moved into the office with
his things. “Only so much to do and a hundred and twenty-three billion people to do
it.”
Liz smiled and shuddered inwardly. She had a sudden insight into what
resentment there might be towards her or any other colonials taking up positions.
“And you are?” Levi asked.
Liz hesitated, then sighed. He’d find out soon enough. “Elizabeth Avonford.”
His eyes went wide. “The person who just discovered the new planet three
thousand AU’s out? Captain Kate Avonford’s daughter? And I’m taking your
office? I’m very sorry!”
She smiled falsely. “Bureaucratic error. Uh, ten days before spring or after
autumn equinox, the sun sets right behind the old fort. Enjoy it. By the way, it’s a
kuiperoid or planetoid or whatever—not a planet.” She turned and walked to the
elevator.
As she entered her apartment, she realized she had to talk to someone. She
touched the net for her older sister, Hilda.
Hilda, I just got my ass fired. She took a breath. Help!
A few minutes later, her sister was on her wall screen. Hilda had inherited
wide-set blue eyes from their father, Wotan Kremer, and a long nose so much like
her own that, in certain positions and lighting, it was almost like looking in a mirror.
But Hilda’s hair was an almost platinum gold, while her own locks were more
reddish brown, attesting to Catherine Avonford’s Celtic lineage. And Hilda had a
strong chin. Liz often thought about having her own enhanced.