"Donald Malcolm - The Unknown Shore" - читать интересную книгу автора (Malcom Donald)

manner that barely missed being obsequious. Laura McDonald, his strong
right arm, was there too, stiff as her dazzling white starched apron. He
sensed at once the worry in her clear gray eyes and in the set of her mouth.

Templeton was flanked by handsome Marine Major Essenden, the
commander of the station's military force. Better than anyone, he knew
just how token that force was, and the knowledge irked him. Rangone
didn't know for certain, but there had been rumors about his cowardice in
the face of the Enemy during an assault on Canopus One. Normally,
Essenden would have been returned home for court-martial, but the
desperate situation demanded the services of every man. He'd been sent to
the Station, and the man he replaced went to the front. The exchange had
been fatal for the replacement military commander. He'd been killed the
day after his transfer, and that had not endeared Essenden to the rest of
the personnel. Laura, especially, was very hard on him. Essenden's gaze
met Rangone's and slid away.

"I add my apologies to Templeton's for disturbing you during an
operation, Commander," Brandt said, drawing his attention. "However,
the situation is serious in the extreme."

He indicated a message form, the only thing on his desk except for a
communicator, a note-pad, and a pencil.

"We are going to have to evacuate this station."

Rangone knew better than to interrupt, so he let Brandt go on.

"Canopus Four has just fallen and our forces have sustained severe
losses: We'll lose the entire Canopus system, and the Enemy will then be in
a position to execute a pincer movement on this system. As a
non-combatant unit, we have been ordered to get out as soon as possible."

"When are the relief ships coming?"

Brandt's blue eyes regarded him unblinkingly; suddenly the only sound
in the room was the tiny metallic chucklings of the air-conditioning unit.
Rangone felt his heart constrict. As a surgeon, empathy was his business.

"There will be no ships, Commander. We will have to rely on the one we
have. I can see by your expression that the implications of this have not
escaped you. We are here to decide on a course of action. Templeton will
outline the alternatives."

The aide cleared his throat and said, "We have, as Commandant Brandt
told you, only one ship. Fortunately, it's a hospital ship with a full
complement of equipment and refrigeration tanks."

Thank heaven for that, Rangone thought, listening attentively. He was
already ahead of Templeton, but it was just, as well to let the man finish.