"Alan E. Nourse - Rocket to Limbo" - читать интересную книгу автора (Nourse Alan E)

pack had been removed before the Security man had closed the door. Lars rose and paced
the room. He watched the current news-tape flickering on a screen in the corner for a
moment or two, then snapped it off in disgust. Too many unanswered questions were
crowding his mind for attention.
He knew that his position on the Ganymede had been obtained in the proper fashion,
the same way all Officers-in-Training received their assignments. It was customary for each
Star Ship to carry two fledgling officers, to prepare them by actual field experience for the
duties they would soon assume in full on ships exploring, and opening new planets. The vast
matching-plan system placed qualified men on the ships of their choice whenever there was
an opening, unless the ship's commander objected. To most men leaving the Academy, the
choice of ship was not important, but with Lars it had been different. He had set his heart on
the Ganymede.
Y
18 ROCKET TO LIMBO
When his appointment had come through he had hardly been able to contain his joy.
But now something had gone wrong.
After what seemed like hours, footsteps stopped outside the door. He heard the
Security officer's voice:
"You're quite certain of this now, Doctor?"
"Yes, yes, there's no question." It was a voice Lars had never heard, a deep and
pleasant voice. "He belongs on the ship, all right."
 "Well-if you're sure. I'm sorry we caused all the trouble."
"Nonsense. You couldn't afford to take a chance."
"No, we couldn't, considering the peculiar nature of-well, you understand."
"Perfectly. Now wKere are you keeping him?"
The door opened and the Security man came in, followed by a tall man of about thirty
with sandy hair and hornrimmed glasses. "Looks like you're in luck," the Security man said
to Lars. "Ill get your things."
When he had gone the sandy-haired man regarded Lars with a grin. "Boy, you picked
the wrong time to go slipping up on little details like countersignatures! They'd liked to have
had you breaking rocks on Titan for the next ten years. I imagine you'll be wanting these." He
handed Lars his orders. They were now officially countersigned. "I'm Lambert, by the way. I
think we'll be working together for a while."
"You're the ecologist on the Ganymede?"
"If you want to call it that. General biologist and jack-of-all-biological-trades. You'll find
that 'ecology' covers a multitude of sins on an exploratory ship. But we'll have time to break
you in when you get settled a bit. We're leaving Earth tonight, you know."
"The shipping orders say next week!"
"Well! They do, now, don't they!" Dr. Lambert chuckled. 'It's going to be a pretty short
week."
"Look, I don't get this," Lars exploded. "First they nail
ROCKET TO LIMBO 19
me like a-a spy or something when I try to board my own ship, and now you tell me we're
blasting a week ahead of schedule. What's going on? Why is Security so worried about the
Ganymede, anyway?"
Lambert shot him a warning glance as the Security man returned with his pack and
chrono. "I think we'd better get aboard before these boys change their minds. Let's go."
Moments later they were riding the gantry crane up the smooth side of the Ganymede.
Lars clutched his countersigned orders tightly in an inner breast pocket. He could see the
yellow light of the entrance lock above him, and felt again the surge of'excitement in his