Breaking Strain by Paul Preuss

Author:Paul Preuss [Preuss, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science fiction; American, Mystery, High Tech, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, General
ISBN: 9780380753444
Google: fhy8iHDGw44C
Goodreads: 149054
Publisher: Avon Books
Published: 1949-12-01T00:00:00+00:00

“Certainly, Captain. Thanks.”

ARTHUR C. CLARKE'S VENUS PRIME: VOLUME I

Antreen extended her hand; they shook vigorously. “Inspector Troy, this is my aide Lieutenant Kitamuki. And this is Inspector Proboda.”

Sparta shook hands with the others–Kitamuki, a slender woman with long black hair knotted back and floating over one shoulder in a sinuous ponytail, Proboda, a roughhewn blond male giant, Polish or maybe Ukrainian, with a touch of the old hell-for-leather cossacks about his slanted eyes. Antreen was all smiles, but her two sidekicks studied Sparta as if considering arresting her on the spot.

“Let’s get into some gravity,” Antreen said. “We’ll show you to your quarters, Troy. And when you’re settled we’ll see if we can clear off a desk for you at unit HQ.” She moved off quickly; Kitamuki and Proboda parted to let Sparta through, then closed in tight formation behind her.

Sparta followed Antreen easily enough through the weightless passage–she’d had three days without acceleration in the middle of her trip and she hadn’t lost the body-memory of what it was like to have space legs–passing from the station’s motionless hub through the gray metal bulkheads of the security sector. They passed the station’s huge sliding collar, and Sparta paused a moment to adjust to the spin.

They moved on, through black-and yellow-striped emergency hatches into wider corridors, until they reached one of the main halls in the turning section of the station, far enough outside the hub to create fractional gees which established a “floor,” that being the inner cylindrical surface of the hall itself.

Once in the hall, Antreen turned planetward, toward the Space Board headquarters in the station’s central sphere.

Sparta paused. Kitamuki and Proboda almost tumbled into her. “Something wrong, Inspector?” Antreen asked.

“It’s very good of you,” Sparta said, smiling. “But time is too short, I’ll have to check out my quarters later.”

“If you say so. I’m sure we can get you settled at HQ, anyway.”

“I’ll be going to traffic control first. Star Queen is due within the hour.”

“We haven’t arranged authorization,” Antreen said.

“No problem,” Sparta replied.

Antreen nodded. “You’re right, of course. Your badge is enough. Do you know the way?”

“If any of you want to come with me . . .” Sparta said.

“Inspector Proboda will accompany you. He’ll take care of anything you need,” Antreen said.

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