За разломом орла

           ThroughthewindowsinthesideofthetunnelIsawfiguresfloating,pullingthemselvesalonghandoverhand. 

           Isighedandstartedmakingmywaytotheairlock. 

           *** 

           BythetimeIreachedthelocktheywerealreadythroughthefirststageofthecycle. Nothingwrongwiththat—therewasnogoodreasontopreventforeignpartiesboardingavessel—butitwasjustatinybitimpolite. Butperhapsthey’dassumedwewereallasleep. 

           Thedoorslidopen. 

           "You’reawake,"amansaid."CaptainThomasGundlupetoftheBlueGoose,isn’tit?" 

           "Guessso,"Isaid. 

           "Mindifwecomein?" 

           Therewereabouthalfadozenofthem,andtheywerealreadycomingin. Theyallworeslightlytimewornochreoveralls,flashedwithtoomanycompanysigils. Myhacklesrose. Ididn’treallylikethewaytheywerebargingin. 

           "What’sup?"Isaid."Wherearewe?" 

           "Wheredoyouthink?"themansaid.Hehadafacefullofstubble,withbadyellowteeth.Iwasimpressedbythat. Havingbadteethtookalotofworkthesedays. ItwasyearssinceI’dseenanyonewhohadthesamededicationtotheart. 

           "I’mreallyhopingyou’renotgoingtotellmewe’restillstuckinArkangelsystem,"Isaid. 

           "No,youmadeitthroughthegate." 

           "And?" 

           "Therewasascrew-up.Routingerror.Youdidn’tpopoutoftherightaperture." 

           "Oh,Christ."Itookoffmybibcap."Itneverrains.Somethingwentwrongwiththeinsertion,right?" 

           "Maybe.Maybenot. Whoknowshowthesethingshappen? Allweknowisyouaren’tsupposedtobehere." 

           "Right.Andwhereis‘here’?"