"Starfarers - 01 - Starfarers" - читать интересную книгу автора (McIntyre Vonda N)

Starfarers

Vonda N. McIntyre

V1.5 - broken paragraphs, spelling, garbage text corrected by paragwinn
v2.0 - broken words (divided by dashes), some scanning errors,
converted back to text file (no italic or bold styles) by jankcowl


Nervous and excited and rushed and lale, J. D. Sauvage hurried down
the corridor of the terminal. The satchel carrying her personal
allowance thumped against her hip. The other passengers had already
begun to board the spaceplane.

"J.D."

Victoria Fraser MacKenzie strode toward her. J. D. was aware of
the attention of the other people in the waiting area, surely
recognizing Victoria, perhaps also wondering who the heavy-set,
sunburned newcomer might be. Victoria was the sort of person one
noticed. Though she was small and compact, she had a powerful
presence. Everything about her was intense: her energy, her eyes, the
black of her hair, her passionate defense of the deep space
expedition. She had been much in the news lately.

She extended her hand. J.D. took it. The contrast of Victoria's
hand, dark and smooth, the nails well groomed, to her own, the skin
roughened by exposure to wind and sea. the nails pared down as short
as they could get, made J.D. wish she had had more time to prepare
for this trip.

"I'm glad to see you," Victoria said.

"Were you afraid I'd changed my mind again?"

"No. Not once you agreed. J. D. . . . I know how important your
research is to you. But the expedition is unique. The orcas will
still be here when we get back. The divers, too."

I hope so, J.D. thought, but she did not say it aloud. "Come on,"
Victoria said. "We'd better hurry."

They walked into the entry tunnel and joined the end of the
line.

"This is your first trip up. eh?" Victoria said. "Is there
anything you want to know thai they didn't cover at the
orientation?"