Gold Star

Начало книги

Scanned by Highroller. Proofed by the best elf proofer. Made prettier by use of EBook Design Group Stylesheet. Gold Star by Zach Hughes Chapter One Peter Jaynes came from deep sleep into instant alertness. He lay on his back, his eyes looking upward toward the planetside landscape which Jan had programmed into the decopanel on the bulkhead over the bed. The subconscious memory of a sound was just beyond his reach. He lifted his head from the pillow, was very still. The only thing he heard was Jan's deep, even breathing. He sighed, let his neck relax, and put out his hand to the heated softness of a rounded hip. He decided that he'd dreamed a sound. He turned and put one arm across Jan. She slept in the same garment she'd been wearing during the last wake period, a silken singlet. There was no need for formality on a deep-space tug crewed by man and wife. The tantalizing near-memory of having been awakened by something continued to nag at him. He closed his eyes but did not feel sleepy. He turned onto his back again. The landscape overhead had changed to show a Tigian sky over hard, red, rocky hills. It had rained and a rainbow arced the dome of blue. He was not going to be able to get back to sleep. «Come on, legs,» he said aloud. Legs heard and obeyed, swung off the bed. Jan stirred, but did not awaken. He checked the wall chronometer. He was only halfway through the sleep period, which accounted for his slight feeling of grogginess. He stepped into the shower. Cold, stinging, refreshing water penetrated the singlet he wore. He shook his head and sent droplets flying, cut off the water, stood with his eyes closed as a warm breeze from an ecologically pure desert dried him.

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