Doctor Who 814 - Vanderdeken by Christopher Bulis

Author:Christopher Bulis
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-07-13T03:47:04+00:00

Chapter 17

Guilt

The next morning, ship time, the Cirrandaria 's crew spared no efforts to distract the passengers' attention from the alien craft and whatever it might contain. Tired holidaymakers, waking from the excitement of the previous night's departure of the expedition to board the derelict, found that the public-address speakers and info screens were alive with announcements of special prizes for the coming fancy-dress night, the attractions of the gymnasia, solarium, deck sports, tri-dee shows and a live theatre matinée.

Only a brief mention was made about the results of the expedition itself.

It was implied that the exploration party had encountered something strange on board, but the details were carefully vague. It mentioned, without undue emphasis, that Lyset Wynter and a couple of other crew members were unaccounted for, but there seemed no great urgency about their situation, and in any case it seemed natural to associate Lyset with exotic and dangerous situations. She had always returned safely in the past.And in the strange way that fact and fancy sometimes blurred, the reassuring thought lingered in the back of most people's minds that Don Delray would be there to rescue her if the situation got serious.

The passengers were also gently but repeatedly reminded that the whole business would be over very shortly, when a squadron of navy ships would arrive to relieve them.The Captain had also gently eased theCirrandaria a few kilometres further away from the derelict during the night, reducing its apparent size and prominence. After a day of excitement and speculation the novelty of the situation was beginning to wane. It had been an interesting if slightly inconvenient diversion, but now separation from the focus of interest made it easier to dismiss from the mind. It was evident that the Nimosians were not going to profit from their attempts at salvaging the craft, and so the status quo had been maintained.

Besides, theCirrandaria 's passengers had paid for a luxury cruise and they were determined not to let anything stop them getting their money's worth.

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