JК
Crashlander :: Нивен Ларри
Страница: 177 из 199The camera followed him on automatic, and now it showed a huge, sprawling house of architectural coral, pink and slightly rounded everywhere. Carlos gestured. «I've waited. The house isn't finished because you and Milcenta will have your own tastes. But come soon.
«I've set credit with Outbound. Messages sent to Home by hyperwave will be charged to me. I'll get the service charges when you and Milcenta board. Call first. We can work this out.»
The record began to repeat. I heard it through again, then turned the monitor around.
Ms. Machti asked, «You went sailing alone?»
She thought I'd tried to commit suicide after our wives had changed parity and locked the men out: an implication Carlos had shaped with some skill. I made a brush-off gesture and said, «I've got to tell him I'm still alive.»
«The credit he left doesn't apply —»
«I want to send a hyperwave message, my expense. Let's see … does Outbound Enterprises keep a camera around?»
«No.»
«I'll fax it from the hotel. When's the next flight out?»
«At least two weeks, but we can suspend you any time.»
* * *
I used a camera at the hotel. The first disk I made would go through Outbound Enterprises. «John, I'm all right. I was on a dead island eating fish for a while.» A slightly belligerent tone: «I haven't heard a word from Adelaide or Milcenta. I know Milcenta better than you do, and frankly, I believe they must have separated by now. Home looks like a new life, but I haven't given up on the old one. I'll let you know when I know myself.»
So much for the ears of Ms. Machti.
Time lag had me suddenly wiped out. I floated between the sleeping plates … exhausted but awake. What should I put in a real message?
Carlos's tape was a wonderful lesson in communication. He wants to talk to Feather. The children are not to be put at risk. Beowulf is presumed dead. Cest la vie; Carlos will not seek vengeance. But he wants Sharrol alive. Feather is not to come to Home without Sharrol. Carlos can enforce any agreement. He hadn't said so because it's too obvious. A frozen Feather, arriving at Home unaccompanied, need never wake.
And he had the money! Not just his own funds, but the money Feather knew about, «family funds»: he must have reached civilization ahead of her and somehow sequestered what Feather had funneled through the ARM. If Feather was loose on Fafnir, then she was also broke. She owned nothing but the credit that would get her a hyperwave call to Home, or herself and Sharrol shipped frozen. Though Carlos didn't know it, even Sharrol had escaped.
Nearly five months.
«I've set credit with Outbound. Messages sent to Home by hyperwave will be charged to me. I'll get the service charges when you and Milcenta board. Call first. We can work this out.»
The record began to repeat. I heard it through again, then turned the monitor around.
Ms. Machti asked, «You went sailing alone?»
She thought I'd tried to commit suicide after our wives had changed parity and locked the men out: an implication Carlos had shaped with some skill. I made a brush-off gesture and said, «I've got to tell him I'm still alive.»
«The credit he left doesn't apply —»
«I want to send a hyperwave message, my expense. Let's see … does Outbound Enterprises keep a camera around?»
«No.»
«I'll fax it from the hotel. When's the next flight out?»
«At least two weeks, but we can suspend you any time.»
* * *
I used a camera at the hotel. The first disk I made would go through Outbound Enterprises. «John, I'm all right. I was on a dead island eating fish for a while.» A slightly belligerent tone: «I haven't heard a word from Adelaide or Milcenta. I know Milcenta better than you do, and frankly, I believe they must have separated by now. Home looks like a new life, but I haven't given up on the old one. I'll let you know when I know myself.»
So much for the ears of Ms. Machti.
Time lag had me suddenly wiped out. I floated between the sleeping plates … exhausted but awake. What should I put in a real message?
Carlos's tape was a wonderful lesson in communication. He wants to talk to Feather. The children are not to be put at risk. Beowulf is presumed dead. Cest la vie; Carlos will not seek vengeance. But he wants Sharrol alive. Feather is not to come to Home without Sharrol. Carlos can enforce any agreement. He hadn't said so because it's too obvious. A frozen Feather, arriving at Home unaccompanied, need never wake.
And he had the money! Not just his own funds, but the money Feather knew about, «family funds»: he must have reached civilization ahead of her and somehow sequestered what Feather had funneled through the ARM. If Feather was loose on Fafnir, then she was also broke. She owned nothing but the credit that would get her a hyperwave call to Home, or herself and Sharrol shipped frozen. Though Carlos didn't know it, even Sharrol had escaped.
Nearly five months.