За разломом орла

           Gretanoddedandofferedthepalmsofherhandsinakindofapology. 

           "I’mjustsorrywearen’tmeetingunderbettercircumstances,"shesaid. "Butifit’sanyconsolation,whathappenedwasn’tatallyourfault. Wecheckedyoursyntax,andtherewasn’tamistake. It’sjustthatnowandthenthesystemthrowsaglitch." 

           "Funnyhownoonelikestotalkaboutthatverymuch,"Isaid. 

           "Couldhavebeenworse,Thom. Irememberwhatyouusedtotellmeaboutspacetravel." 

           "Yeah?Whichparticularpearlofwisdomwouldthathavebeen?" 

           "Ifyou’reinapositiontomoanaboutasituation,you’venorighttobemoaning." 

           "Christ.DidIactuallysaythat?" 

           "Mm.AndIbetyou’reregrettingitnow. Butlook,itreallyisn’tthatbad. You’reonlytwentydaysoff-schedule." Gretanoddedtowardthemanwhohadthebadteeth. "Koldingsaysyou’llonlyneedadayofdamagerepairbeforeyoucanmoveoffagain,andthenanothertwenty,twenty-fivedaysbeforeyoureachyourdestination,dependingonroutingpatterns. That’slessthansixweeks. Soyoulosethebonusonthisone. Bigdeal. You’reallingoodshape,andyourshiponlyneedsalittlework. Whydon’tyoujustbitethebulletandsigntherepairpaperwork?" 

           "I’mnotlookingforwardtoanothertwentydaysinthesurgetank. There’ssomethingelse,aswell." 

           "Whichis?" 

           IwasabouttotellheraboutKaterina,howshe’dhavebeenexpectingmebackalready.