"Charles Stross - A Colder War" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stross Charles)

surface of a Jovian moon. Crow's feet. Wrinkles. Signs of age. Hair the
colour of moonlight. "It took so long,'' he says, almost complaining. Sinks
to his knees. "All that time we've been gone ...'' He leans against the side
of the sub, a pale shadow, aged beyond his years. "The sun was so bright.
And our radiation detectors. Must have been a solar flare or something.''
He doubles over and retches at the edge of the platform.

Roger looks at him for a long, thoughtful minute: Gorman is twenty-five
and a fixer for Big Black, early history in the Green Berets. He was in
rude good health two days ago, when he set off through the gate to make
the pick-up. Roger glances at the lieutenant. "I'd better go and tell the
colonel,'' he says. A pause. "Get these two back to Recovery and see
they're looked after. I don't expect we'll be sending any more crews
through Victor-Tango for a while.''

He turns and walks towards the lift shaft, hands clasped behind his back
to keep them from shaking. Behind him, alien moonlight glimmers across
the floor of Lake Vostok, three miles and untold light years from home.

General LeMay would be Proud

Warning
The following briefing film is classified SECRET
INDIGO MARCH SNIPE. If you do not have SECRET
INDIGO MARCH SNIPE clearance, leave the

file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruisw...en/spaar/Charles%20Stross%20-%20A%20Colder%20War.htm (12 of 34)19-2-2006 17:13:54
A Colder War - a novelette by Charles Stross


auditorium now and report to your unit security
officer for debriefing. Failing to observe this notice
is an imprisonable offense.

You have sixty seconds to comply.

Video clip
Shot of huge bomber, rounded gun turrets
sprouting like mushrooms from the decaying log of
its fuselage, weirdly bulbous engine pods slung too
far out towards each wingtip, four turbine tubes
clumped around each atomic kernel.

Voice-over
"The Convair B-39 Peacemaker is the most
formidable weapon in our Strategic Air Command's
arsenal for peace. Powered by eight nuclear-
heated Pratt and Whitney NP-4051 turbojets, it
circles endlessly above the Arctic ice cap, waiting
for the call. This is Item One, the flight training