Скачать книгу

sight. However, I thought I spotted a dim gleam of a reflection. Wishful thinking or my imagination, it didn’t matter. It was enough to justify my decision to unhook my harness from the safety line.

      Despite the cold, sweat soaked the fabric of my uniform. I rubbed my moist palm on my arm before grasping the next rung. Continuing up the ladder with slow and careful movements, I tested each before allowing it to bear my weight. In the silence of the Expanse, my breath sounded loud and mechanical. My heart thudded with urgency as it reminded me of the danger. One slip, and … I wouldn’t think about it.

      Instead, I focused on keeping a tight grip and my balance on the rungs. Concentrating so hard on my hands and feet, I bumped my head on the ceiling. I clung to the ladder in surprise, and when my muscles stopped trembling, I scanned the flat expanse of metal over my head. Finally!

      I checked the altimeter. Inside was eighty meters high, which meant we could build six more levels for a total of sixteen. Wow. That was mind-numbing. I hoped our systems could service all those levels. And what about keeping them clean and in good condition? And when did I turn into such a worrier?

      Eventually, someone would need to explore the entire ceiling. Logan had read about another Outer Space Gateway in the computer files. By the way he described the file system, it had sounded as jumbled as the infirmary’s supplies after the explosion. Between the Travas’ attempts to erase files and the sheer amount of information, Logan had said—with his usual glee over a technical challenge—that it was an utter mess.

      With one last look upwards, I steeled myself for the descent and stopped. Moving the beam of light slowly, I searched for the almost invisible indentation I thought I spotted from the corner of my eye. I swept the beam back and forth over a square meter-sized section. When I was just about to give up, the light skipped over a line.

      I found a near-invisible hatch! Pleased over my discovery, it took me a few seconds to understand the full ramifications of my find. Above each of the four levels we have been living in, was a near-invisible hatch to the Gap between levels. This meter and a half space housed pipes and wires and room for someone like me to move between levels without being seen.

      I had thought I reached the ceiling. But the presence of a near-invisible hatch meant there was something on the other side.

      6

      SOMETHING ON THE OTHER SIDE. I REPEATED IT IN MY mind in order for the logical side of my brain to catch up. No black rubber ringed the hatch, which meant it wasn’t a Gateway to Outer Space. There could be another Expanse and room for additional levels. I laughed, but it sounded strained and metallic as it echoed. I had thought sixteen levels incomprehensible.

      Only one way to know for sure, I hooked my legs through the rungs on the ladder to anchor my body. Stretching my hands up, I felt for the release.

      The pop-click reverberated through the bones in my arms. I pushed the hatch. The metal groaned and creaked, setting my teeth on edge. A dusty stale smell drifted down.

      When the opening was big enough for me to fit through, I shined my light inside. The ladder continued another meter before stopping. Odd shapes decorated the wall. Taking a risk, I climbed into the space. The floor seemed solid so I stepped down, but still held on to the ladder just in case.

      Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

      Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

      Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

      Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

/9j/4RubRXhpZgAATU0AKgAAAAgADAEAAAMAAAABAfQAAAEBAAMAAAABAx0AAAECAAMAAAADAAAA ngEGAAMAAAABAAIAAAESAAMAAAABAAEAAAEVAAMAAAABAAMAAAEaAAUAAAABAAAApAEbAAUAAAAB AAAArAEoAAMAAAABAAIAAAExAAIAAAAgAAAAtAEyAAIAAAAUAAAA1IdpAAQAAAABAAAA6AAAASAA CAAIAAgADqYAAAAnEAAOpgAAACcQQWRvYmUgUGhvdG9zaG9wIENTNiAoTWFjaW50b3NoKQAyMDE1 OjA4OjEyIDE3OjA4OjU1AAAEkAAABwAAAAQwMjIxoAEAAwAAAAEAAQAAoAIABAAAAAEAAAXcoAMA BAAAAAEAAAlXAAAAAAAAAAYBAwADAAAAAQAGAAABGgAFAAAAAQAAAW4BGwAFAAAAAQAAAXYBKAAD AAAAAQACAAACAQAEAAAAAQAAAX4CAgAEAAAAAQAAGhUAAAAAAAAASAAAAAEAAABIAAAAAf/Y/+0A DEFkb2JlX0NNAAH/7gAOQWRvYmUAZIAAAAAB/9sAhAAMCAgICQgMCQkMEQsKCxEVDwwMDxUYExMV ExMYEQwMDAwMDBEMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMAQ0LCw0ODRAODhAUDg4OFBQO Dg4OFBEMDAwMDBERDAwMDAwMEQwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAz/wAARCACgAGQD ASIAAhEBAxEB/90ABAAH/8QBPwAAAQUBAQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAwABAgQFBgcICQoLAQABBQEBAQEB AQAAAAAAAAABAAIDBAUGBwgJCgsQAAEEAQMCBAIFBwYIBQMMMwEAAhEDBCESMQVBUWETInGBMgYU kaGxQiMkFVLBYjM0coLRQwclklPw4fFjczUWorKDJkSTVGRFwqN0NhfSVeJl8rOEw9N14/NGJ5Sk hbSVxNTk9KW1xdXl9VZmdoaWprbG1ub2N0dXZ3eHl6e3x9fn9xEAAgIBAgQEAwQFBgcHBgU1AQAC EQMhMRIEQVFhcSITBTKBkRShsUIjwVLR8DMkYuFygpJDUxVjczTxJQYWorKDByY1wtJEk1SjF2RF VTZ0ZeLys4TD03Xj80aUpIW0lcTU5PSltcXV5fVWZnaGlqa2xtbm9ic3R1dnd4eXp7fH/9oADAMB AAIRAxEAPwDy8uawAMPvE7ngeem1bXS+tNpa2rqBImNlo1O0/nW/98WK0wQyob7J+lEzB/NB/N/s ohNNFrt5N1jNIj2bhp7t27e1n9RSwmYmwf4Mc4RkKI/757ujLDmh9ZBY4S22Ybr+d/wia3ruLQdr 8kucPzaxouJovyXh26x3pky7sB/V/wDIMatHFqAhzG6O1Dnakj+s5PnmsXs1hy9So6u1b9Zsiz2U Vvtb2Puj7iEB/UuuWDcxhraOBBkT8U+Pg3XEAOPyW2z6uWOxfVLJ26GVTycwItiHKk7APM/busB/ veBGvuDgT8CwPXS/VDqNWP1ajL6m3dUwuhwDrC15G2t7av536X7rFUp6FbZktqY2S50BdPd9XW49 AYOWj3FNlzQFDuuHK0bsabPSdd6oBgZLsR4Apx7b7skQRW2sCao3B7cm/wDwXt9n+YuKd1Np6XXm 5FTq22tnGpP85aP9I39zFb/3Jf8Azn+B9RDsw/RpdldQpuzcap26nFc176HObr6mc9v06ane5mFv /Tf9qP0KpZbczNBzeoufj15GtQe2crIj6DcPDaN/pfm1vdXVjV/4JXOXlQ06/a1s4uWushpp8rzH VLb8u82Wkvefo1t+i0fyG/m/13rKt2sJH0n9wOB/5NdZ1LpLasbNfUa3twgHPqY/cN4HqPbku0db Y1vt+kuTe6q95czGFQOu1jyGj+r63qO/6SfkGviV+E2PAIdzt0zqkjfZ2bZ2On931BP/AJ72pKPh l/LiZeOP8uF//9DzrKfQBFbdr3SAW6Eg+10x9JipQ1rgJ3eIH5F2J+qvT367bK3caPP3e8OVez6m VAF1dloHnB/761Wp4Zk3Q+jVhzGOIq5fV5+lwfZ7nFrvAfQ/q/1V0XTLW+1tzAWdy3UfH95rlQf9 XLaHmLDA7bZ/itDptAqtbveZHMCD/Z9yjljlWoSM2Mn0yvwex6P0YWubZin1GHlnf/zJdpR0/wDQ +kWgAjUEiVi/Vqqiyxv2cOayPpPjcT/YC2evdaPSccDGoOXmPY+1tI9oFVID8rJufB210tcxv79t 1tNSqTwxMtdaZsU5SF6gI6Ok41b35FIbZbWXMAYQ6Hfnt0+i9qzeo5jKKH73bX9pBMqv9SPrDTl5 F3Tn1Bjsg2ZLHhw2lx2OdQ1h9/srd+j9/wDNsV/r9FbQ9hrMPHtNZg7h32u9jkI4okiwrJIxFjUP CX9Vqw3nLreHZu47X2Me4Vf8JTX/AEZ1jv8AS3erbX/o61ztvVLDnHLtzXm1251lpDt5ES5svc3f v/m/5xbHUOm5d1hZUPXdPDNRH9Y/moFX1A63l+62h1TDr7nNBVyAMNBX10a8zjlqZEnsPV/zXFt+ s9tbM2nEpayjqLnWXC4+o6X7g70y30m1t2WfuLFbaQAJ+a7w/wCLgUibXAnwmf4lZnUehswgfSYC B+eAPw27VJwTlrxD6apGXHHQRP1eZ+0GOElofZcj+d2eziY0/Kkhwy7/AILvch2/F//R16en12tB I1iOPyqR6S5hlnubwWnt8/3HfmrTqpZSNsz4eMKTrmtGgkjt4jwVuWSXRz/bHVxrugVPZu+j8eyx 87pGLjPbY+zYyfcRrH723+rP+Yt3L6i4PcwOn27mnxC5Pq2U42Evdo4bgOxiXf8ApWtKImTqWDII 9Bq7PSfrZj9Lc2prNzWmH2uPPhsZ+ZuatP62ddZb9XM3qGJdsy3432epsD+bfbUOoOY7991H/bXp +oxeWWXXZOYzHoBsc9waGjuZR8zrINGTgki8g2hr+30W1N9P/MeoZ4wTYNVv/WbWI5MfDHWXEB6f 3In9Ml7P/F71jpmLhZmRnhnq4+XOG8tG5rjS2i7Y/wDlV+xy1s36zYfUnaH0rG+0GfY4u+g1eW5m VVT08YWG5zmMvdebHwHl7mtrczawub6e1n9tE6b1R3sa86F347dv8UIYxx6nXovyyySgTHWIvQ9X 0zAIqdufBdq9z+2g9z//ACC1sXK9at1pJ9KuR8SNXD+x+euGw+o5Hp+mDu3kNaPGCNrf+3HVrbu6 i2upmIxxaxsAkckD/wBKWHcpTiNtSGRuZ+S6z6J9p1gLmM/p7Lri97iAeR2V+3MLzIMhpgR3PDj/ AGfoMVG/JaQddeefFWYRAFJMiS1vs9c+lPs4SQfW/TTPu8f++pI6J1f/0ujyssMYYOvY+B7LJb1Y 266tB4B5H/nKWRbod3HiVzud1MVPc1ug5keJ+l3WgIABypTJLodUy7WMZZWxzyS4sgEywbjcW/ya ttm5cn1i/MBLdj5a4tEjsC3eI/kusWg/rDbKnC7OsxnUkDGLI9rbJ9ctG3d+Yz6L/f6ioX34pcHv 6k5zQWw5zQZLrXMucfYf+07KshMnKgRt4suLEDISOvg5gHVMN5tpY+q2rR9oGrTEEbv8G5u//wAE Z/IQRRexgNdNk7ZDy3SCGHcJ/ebdX/YtrWhXsfVW/Izn0G5r2WO+kQZ9Oz1NnutbZR7P/AX/AKJE azEaKWu6s5gZA9AtLtgGx21l0ei5m8fu/pNn0FARIfy2ttgxvx2JH6XC0jg5d9Yayp++z3VtjVxD W5Dtv/WLPVUKuldVZYGfZbS6G2BrWkkghr2vYB9Juyyv3N/0lf762cY4Bayx3U7K3NDS1kDk1U0v 97Wt+hW+/G+j/gFHOzGU1erh9dtutxy1tYIdXYwBzKw1nt/Sbamf4O70v1an/gqqhMHQoxneLc6T bmFwLseyaDDwWmWkj1Wb/wB3c17HLVIyXkv2OBGsxpABLXNP0dv0rP8ArSxa8vEqv9dnWrrH3PcM iNCXDbXVfvcz9Ix9DPUf7f0X9HV7F6hQXaZ7y14n0tIYS1oezZt2O9zrKv0X+DYp4TMtWrkwiJNN knbUADMCFRy8r0xs

Скачать книгу