За разломом орла

           "Thenwhat?" 

           "Thesystemmadeamistake,notyou." 

           "Schedarsector…"Suzysays. "Thatwouldputusabouttendaysoffourschedule,wouldn’tit?" 

           ItryandrememberwhatGretasaidtomethefirsttime. Ioughttoknowthisstuffbyheart,butSuzy’stheroutingexpert,notme. "Thatsoundsaboutright,"Isay. 

           ButSuzyshakesherhead. "Thenwe’renotinSchedarsector." 

           Itrytosoundpleasantlysurprised. 

           "We’renot?" 

           "I’vebeeninthattankforalotlongerthanafewdays,Thom. Iknow. Icanfeelitineveryfuckingboneinmybody. Sowherearewe?" 

           IturntoGreta.Ican’tbelievethisishappeningagain. 

           "Endit,"Isay. 

           GretastepstowardSuzy. 

           *** 

           Youknowthat"assoonasIawokeIkneweverythingwaswrong"cliché? You’veprobablyhearditathousandtimes,inathousandbarsacrosstheBubble,wherevershipcrewsswaptalltalesoverflat,company-subsidizedbeer. Thetroubleisthatsometimesthat’sexactlythewayithappens. Ineverfeltgoodafteraperiodinthesurgetank. ButtheonlytimeIhadevercomearoundfeelinganywherenearthisbadwasafterthattripItooktotheedgeoftheBubble. 

           Mullingthis,butknowingtherewasnothingIcoulddoaboutituntilIwasoutofthetank,ittookmehalfanhourofpainfulworktofreemyselffromtheconnections. Everymusclefibreinmybodyfeltlikeithadbeenshredded. Unfortunately,thesenseofwrongnessdidn’tendwiththetank. TheBlueGoosewasmuchtooquiet.