За разломом орла

           "Fuckyou." 

           "Fuckme?Yes,youdid.That’sthepoint." 

           Iwantedtostrikeoutagainsther. ButwhatIwasangryatwasnotherinsinuationbutthecold-heartedtruthofit. Shewasright,andIknewit. Ijustdidn’twanttodealwiththat,anymorethanIwantedtodealwiththehereandnow. 

           Iwaitedfortheangertosubside. 

           "Yousaywe’renotthefirst?"Isaid. 

           "No.Wewerethefirst,Isuppose—theshipIcamein.Luckilyitwaswellequipped. Aftertheroutingerror,wehadenoughsuppliestosetupaself-sustainingstationonthenearestrock. Weknewtherewasnogoingback,butatleastwecouldmakesomekindoflifeforourselveshere." 

           "Andafterthat?" 

           "Wehadenoughtodojustkeepingourselvesalive,thefirstfewyears. Butthenanothershipcamethroughtheaperture. Damaged,drifting,muchlikeBlueGoose. Wehauledherin,warmedhercrew,brokethenewstothem." 

           "How’dtheytakeit?" 

           "Aboutaswellasyou’dexpect."Gretalaughedhollowlytoherself. "Acoupleofthemwentmad.Anotherkilledherself. Butatleastadozenofthemarestillhere. Inallhonesty,itwasgoodforusthatanothershipcamethrough. Notjustbecausetheyhadsupplieswecoulduse,butbecauseithelpedustohelpthem.Tookourmindsoffourownself-pity.Itmadeusrealizehowfarwe’dcome,andhowmuchhelpthesenewcomersneededtomakethesametransition. Thatwasn’tthelastship,either.