За разломом орла

           Ialwayslikewatchingshipscomingandgoing,evenwhenthey’reholdingmyownshipontheground. Icouldn’treadthesyntax,butIknewtheseshipshadcomeinallthewayfromtheRift. TheAquilaRiftisaboutasfaroutasanyoneevergoes. Atmediantunnelspeeds,it’sayearfromthecenteroftheLocalBubble. 

           I’vebeenoutthatwayonceinmylife.I’veseentheviewfromthenearsideoftheRift,likeagoodtourist. Itwasfarenoughforme. 

           Whentherewasalullinthelandingpattern,IduckedintoabarandfoundanApertureAuthoritybooththattookAshanticredit. Isatintheseatandrecordedathirty-secondmessagetoKaterina. ItoldherIwasonmywayback,butthatwewerestuckonArkangelforanotherfewhours. Iwarnedherthatthedelaymightcascadethroughtoourtunnelrouting,dependingonhowbusythingswereattheAuthority’send. Basedonpastexperience,aneight-hourgroundholdmightbecomeatwo-dayholdatthesurgepoint. ItoldherI’dbeback,butsheshouldn’tworryifIwasafewdayslate. 

           Outsideadiplodocusslouchedbywithafreightcontainerstrappedbetweenitslegs. 

           ItoldKaterinaIlovedherandcouldn’twaittogetbackhome. 

           WhileIwalkedbacktotheBlueGoose,Ithoughtofthemessageracingaheadofme. Transmittedatlight-speedup-system,thencopiedintothememorybufferofthenextoutgoingship. Chanceswere,thatparticularshipwasn’theadedtoBarranquillaoranywherenearit. TheApertureAuthoritywouldhavetorelaythemessagefromshiptoshipuntilitreacheditsdestination.