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

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Nervous and excited and rushed and lale, J. D. Sauvage hur-
ried 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 Vic-
toria'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 impor-
tant 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."

2 vonda N. Mcintyre

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 ori-
entation?"

"Urn ... I missed the orientation."

"You missed it?"

"I was down at cargo. It took longer than I expected."