"Larry Niven - Building Harlequin's Moon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Niven Larry)

height, finally leaping all-out. As she began the fall after the apogee of her leap, she snapped her leg and
arm wings down just before the ground could catch her foot webs. Three strong kicks, a rhythm, and she
was flying.

Rachel flew low in the treacherously soft light of Harlequin's evening until she reached two tall poles that
marked the outside of the colony's first home. Her father had told her the poles once supported a great
tent of air that Council built their first homes in. No longer needed, the tall stakes still marked the
boundaries of home. She swung her legs from behind to just in front of her, braking, snapping her leg
wings closed at exactly the right moment, landing with just one extra little hop that she expertly turned into
a bounding walk as she folded her arm wings in.
Rachel followed a well-worn path past Council Row and its large lighted homes, sparing them hardly a
glance. They were beautiful, iridescent, and closed to Moon Born. The faultless layout seemed like a wall
to Rachel as she slipped along its outside edge toward the friendly chaos of tents she called home. The
base color of the tents was a metallic shimmering light gray; fabric that repelled rain and heat alike.
Colorful cloths were thrown and sewn onto the walls, covering and making windows, proclaiming family
personalities. In the common areas between tents, children played skip-stones, studied, or sat in groups
talking. Rachel waved at her friend Ursula's brothers and some of the kids from her class.

In two more minutes she was truly home, ducking through a delicate blue fabric doorway. The inside of
the tent was simple. Hangings divided it into four rooms-two sleeping rooms, a combination living room
and kitchen, and a small workroom. They shared bathroom facilities with four other families.

Her father was already there, his boots off, his feet resting on an embroidered ottoman she had made
him. Dark circles spread like stains under his eyes, and his long arms draped by his side.

"The other kids have been back more than an hour," Frank said, smiling at her.

"I wanted my trees to be perfect."

"Your work is always good." Her father's voice sounded warm, if tired. "I've got dinner on."

Rachel went to the tiny kitchen and ladled vegetable soup into a smooth metal bowl. She'd cut the beans
and carrots up that morning before going to the grove. "I'll have to study."

"You'll pass," Frank said. "Did you get any information about when they plan to start the planting for this
season?"

"It'll be soon. It has to be. Gabriel will be gone after the test, and I guess we'll stay and take care of
things at the grove. Gabe downloaded a bunch of new stuff for us this afternoon, so I better study."

"Better call him Gabriel," Frank said.

"Yes, Daddy."

"And you'd better get some sleep."

"I know. I'll sleep after I read the new stuff he beamed me." Rachel flipped open the wrist pad she'd been
given when Gabriel chose her for the planting class. She commanded it to create a window in front of
her. Numbers and descriptions flowed through the air. When her eyes blurred and the data stopped
making sense, she slipped off to sleep, snuggling deep into a nest of blankets and pillows.