За разломом орла

           Suzyreacts,butsheisn’tquickenough. GretapullssomethingfromherpocketandtouchesSuzyontheforearm. Suzydropslikeapuppet,outcold.Weputherbackintothesurgetank,plumbherbackinandclosethelid. 

           "Shewon’trememberanything,"Gretasays. "Theconversationneverlefthershort-termmemory." 

           "Idon’tknowifIcangothroughwiththis,"Isay. 

           Gretatouchesmewithherotherhand."Nooneeversaidthiswasgoingtobeeasy." 

           "Iwasjusttryingtoeaseherintoitgently.Ididn’twanttotellherthetruthrightout." 

           "Iknow,"Gretasays."You’reakindman,Thom."Thenshekissesme. 

           *** 

           IrememberedArkangelaswell. Thatwasaboutwhereitallstartedtogowrong. Wejustdidn’tknowitthen. 

           Wemissedourfirsttake-offslotwhencustomsfoundadiscrepancyinourcargowaybill. Itwasn’tserious,butittookthemawhiletorealizetheirmistake. Bythetimetheydid,weknewweweregoingtobesittingonthegroundforanothereighthours,whileinboundcontrolprocessedafleetofbulkcarriers. 

           ItoldSuzyandRaythenews. Suzytookitprettywell,oraboutaswellasSuzyevertookthatkindofthing. Isuggestedsheusethetimetoscourthedocksforanyhotsyntaxpatches. Anythingthatmightshaveadayortwooffourreturntrip. 

           "Companyauthorized?"sheasked. 

           "Idon’tcare,"Isaid. 

           "WhataboutRay?"Suzyasked. "IshegoingtositheredrinkingteawhileIworkformypay?" 

           Ismiled.Theyhadabickering,love-hatethinggoing.