Грань будущего
Chapter 8
Soit’sbasically…me."AnervouslaughescapedShasta’slips.
ItwastheworstclicheofafemaleengineerRitahadeverseen.Railthin,freckled,exaggeratedfacialfeaturesattheextremeedgeoftheprobabilitycurve.Iftherewereeveraten-millimeter-highperfectionistwhowouldnevermisplacesomuchasasinglescreworruntheriskofkissingamemberoftheoppositesex,thiswasit.Ofcoursethereal,brilliantengineeritwassupposedlybasedonprobablyhitherheadonherownlockeratleasttwiceaday,soitjustwenttoshowthatyouneverknew.
ShastalookedupatRitawithworryinhereyes."Don’tyoulikeit?"
"Itdoesn’tlookanythinglikeyou."
"Neitherdoesyours."
Theylookedateachother.
"Allright,thanks.I’llkeepit.Forluck."
ShastaliftedanotherfigurewhenRalphMurdoch,therequisitecamerahangingfromhisthickneck,walkedin.
"Goodmorning,ladies."
Ritacockedonerust-redeyebrowatthearrivalofherunwelcomeguest.Herfacehardenedtosteel.ThesuddenchangeinRita’sdemeanorstartledShasta,wholookedasthoughshecouldn’tdecidewhethershewantedtohidefromRitabehindthisstrangehulkofajournalistortheotherwayaround.Afterafewawkwardmomentsofhesitation,sheoptedfortakingcoverbehindRita.
"Howdidyougetinhere?"Ritamadenoattempttohideherdisdain.
"I’maregisteredmemberofyourpersonalstaff.Whowouldstopme?"
"You’reyourownstaff,andwebothknowit.Youcanleavenow."
