"Smith, E E Doc - Subspace 01 - Subspace Explorers V2" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith E. E. Doc)

"But something did," the gray-haired man said. "A priceless datum. Observations of fact
have already invalidated twenty four of the thirty eight best theories of hyperspace. I take
it that none of you were in direct contact with the metal of the ship at the time of
disaster?"

"We weren't," Deston said. Then, to the younger stranger, "You? And identity, please."

"I know that much. Henry Newman, crew chief normal space."

"Your passengers, Here?"

"Vincent Lopresto, financer, and his two bodyguards. They were sleeping in their suits.
Grounders."

"Just so," the old man said. "Insulated, we acquired the charge very gradually. What did
the bodies look like?" Deston thought for a moment. "Almost as if they had exploded."

"Precisely." Gray-Hair beamed. "That eliminates all the others except three-Morton's,
Rothstein's, and my own."

"You're a specialist in subspace, sir?"

"Oh, no, I'm not a specialist at all. I'm a dabbler; a . . ." "In the College?" Deston asked,
and the other nodded. "With doctorates in everything from astronomy to zoology? I'm
mighty glad you were using this lifecraft for an observatory when we got it, Doctor . . . ?"

"Adams. Andrew Adams. But I have only eight at the moment. Earned degrees, that is."

"And you have a lot of apparatus in the hold?"

"Less than six tons. Just what I must have in order to..

"Babe." Jones' voice broke in. "Got you figured. Power two, alpha eighteen, beta forty
three. . . ."

Rendezvous with the Procyon's hulk was made; both lifecrafts hung motionless relative to
it. No other lifecraft had escaped. A conference was held. Weeks of work would be
necessary to determine the ship's condition. Hundreds of other tasks would have to be
performed, and there were only nine survivors. Everyone would have to work, and work
hard.

The two girls wanted to be together. So did the two officers; since, as long as they lived
or until the Procyon made port, all responsibility rested: first, upon First Officer Carlyle
Deston; and second, upon Second Officer Theodore Jones. Therefore Jones and
Bernice came aboard Lifecraft Two and Deston asked Newman to go over to Lifecraft
Three.

"Uh-uh, I like the scenery here a lot better." Newman 's eyes raked Bernice's five feet
nine of scantily-clad sheer beauty from ankles to coiffure.