Чужой
I
Mostofthetimeittookperfectlygoodcareofitself,whichenabledthemtospendtheirtimeonmoreenlightening,worthwhileprojectssuchasdrinkingbeerandswappingdirtystories.AtthemomentitwasParker’sturntoramble.Hewasrecitingforthehundredthtimethetaleoftheengineeringapprenticeandthefree-fallcathouse.Itwasagoodstory,onethatneverfailedtoelicitaknowingsniggerortwofromthesilentBrettandabellylaughfromthestorytellerhimself.
’..andsothemadambustsinonme,allworriedandmadatthesametime,’theengineerwassaying,’andinsistswecomeandrescuethispoorsap.Guesshedidn’tknowwhathewasgettinginto.’Asusual,heroaredatthepun.
’Yourememberthatplace.Allfourwalls,floorandceilingperfectlymirrored,withnobed.Justavelvetnetsuspendedinthecentreoftheroomtoconfineyouractivitiesandkeepyoufrombouncingoffthewalls,andzero-gee.’Heshookhisheadindisapprovingremembrance.
’That’snoplaceforamateurstofoolaround,nosir!Guessthiskidgotembarrassedorcajoledintotryingitbyhiscrewmates.’
’Fromwhatthegirlinvolvedtoldmelater,asshewascleaningherselfup,theygotstartedofffine.Butthentheystartedtospin,andhepanicked.Couldn’tstoptheirtumbling.Shetried,butittakestwotostopaswellasstartinfree-fall.Whatwiththemirrorsmessinguphissenseofpositionandall,plusthefreetumbling,hecouldn’tstopthrowingup.’Parkerdownedanothermouthfulofbeer.
