За разломом орла

           InsteadIsaid: "I’mworriedabouttheothers.SuzyandRay.They’vegotfamiliesexpectingthem.They’llbeworried." 

           "Iunderstand,"Gretasaid."SuzyandRay.They’restillasleep,aren’tthey?Stillintheirsurgetanks?" 

           "Yes,"Isaid,guardedly. 

           "Keepthemthatwayuntilyou’reonyourway." Gretasmiled. "There’snosenseworryingthemabouttheirfamilies,either. It’skinder." 

           "Ifyousayso." 

           "Trustmeonthisone,Thom. Thisisn’tthefirsttimeI’vehandledthiskindofsituation. Doubtit’llbethelast,either." 

           *** 

           Istayedinahotelovernight,inanotherpartofSaumlaki. Thehotelwasanechoing,multilevelprefabstructure,sunkdeepintobedrock. Itmusthavehadacapacityforhundredsofguests,butatthemomentonlyahandfuloftheroomsseemedtobeoccupied. Isleptfitfullyandgotupearly.Intheatrium,Isawabib-cappedworkerinrubberglovesremovingdiseasedcarpfromasmallornamentalpond. Watchinghimpickouttheailing,metallic-orangefish,Ihadaflashofdéjàvu. Whatwasitaboutdismalhotelsanddyingcarp? 

           Beforebreakfast—bleaklyalert,eventhoughIdidn’treallyfeelasifI’dhadagoodnight’ssleep—IvisitedKoldingandgotafreshupdateontherepairschedule. 

           "Two,threedays,"hesaid. 

           "Itwasadaylastnight." 

           Koldingshrugged. "You’vegotaproblemwiththeservice,findsomeoneelsetofixyourship." 

           Thenhestuckhislittlefingerintothecornerofhismouthandbegantodigbetweenhisteeth.