Shelby and Shauna Kitt and the Dimensional Holes. P. H. C. Marchesi

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СКАЧАТЬ Marina said, “I promised Shauna she could come with me.”

      Shauna quickly understood that Marina had no wish to ride alone with the general, so she nodded obediently, pretending not to see the annoyed look the general gave her.

      “All right, then,” he said, sourly. “I’ll ride with the two of you. Lendox and the other twin can go with the other driver.”

      “My name’s Shelby.”

      “Oh, that’s right,” said the general, dismissively. “I knew it was some sort of girl’s name.”

      “What?” cried Shelby. “It’s not a –”

      “Let us go, Shelby,” interrupted Lendox, leading Shelby away. “Clearly, names are difficult for the general.”

      The general gave Lendox an angry glance, and then walked away with Marina and Shauna.

      “It is unwise to let your emotions control you, Shelby,” Lendox said, in a very quiet tone.

      “But he’s such a jerk!” whispered Shelby.

      “A suitable word, to be sure,” said Lendox, looking amused. “I believe we will think of many others for him before this mission is over. Until then, try to control your emotions, instead of letting them control you.”

      Still angry, Shelby turned back to look at the general, and saw him usher Shauna into the front seat next to the driver, while he sat in the back with Marina.

      “Do you think they’ll be ok with him?” Shelby asked. “He’s really pushy!”

      “Shelby, we are talking about Marina here,” said Lendox. “She is so stubborn not even the klodians could control her.”

      “But Shauna’s not like that,” said Shelby, worriedly. “She’s all sensitive and stuff. There’s always someone picking on her.”

      “I see,” said Lendox. “Well, all of that is about to change.”

      “What do you mean?” asked Shelby, feeling confused all of a sudden. Did Lendox know something he didn’t?

      “You will see for yourself,” said Lendox. “Now come on – the driver is waiting.”

      From her seat in the other car, Shauna turned back and saw Lendox and Shelby get in. She sighed, wishing she could have driven with them. She was determined to stand by Marina, though, even if that meant being in the same car as the nasty general.

      For several minutes, they drove in complete silence. Marina looked out the window, as if the general did not exist. Shauna nearly panicked as Tippy, who was inside her backpack, began to shift nervously inside. She quickly placed the backpack on the floor in front of her, desperately hoping that Tippy wouldn’t start howling.

      “It’s been over fourteen years, Marina,” said the general, abruptly breaking the silence. “You should let it go.”

      Marina finally turned from the window and looked straight at general Falconbridge with her intense gray eyes.

      “Let it go?” she repeated, outraged. “You have no integrity, Stephen. You fired me without an explanation, after I had completed the prototype of the MG plane-ship, and you didn’t even give me the chance to show what it could do – so forgive me if I still hold a grudge.”

      Shauna’s heart jumped, but she stayed motionless, afraid to breathe in case the general noticed she was actually listening.

      “It was better for you to leave,” Stephen Falconbridge added.

      “Oh, please!” exploded Marina. “Do you honestly think I don’t know that it was you who made sure I’d never get a decent job again? If I hadn’t inherited the observatory from my parents, I’d be living under a bridge!”

      “But you’re not, so it can’t have been that bad.”

      “That depends on your definition of bad!” cried Marina, outraged. “I like to build planes, not host school trips!”

      “It’s not my fault you’re so difficult to work with,” he said, coldly. “No one wants a loose cannon.”

      “Clearly, someone does, or I wouldn’t be here,” she retorted.

      “Lendox insisted on you,” replied the general, sourly. “Makes me seriously doubt his judgement.”

      “I think he’s got good taste,” said Marina, with a triumphant smirk.

      “Don’t flatter yourself,” warned the general. “You’re not the only talented aerospace engineer to walk the Earth.”

      “You don’t know anything about talent,” said Marina, scornfully.

      “I beg to differ,” said the general. “I’m married to a brilliant geneticist, remember? Our son inherited a lot of her talent.”

      “Your son?” asked Marina, sounding disconcerted for the first time. “From what I remember, everyone at the base said he wouldn’t –”

      “All the rumors were wrong,” interrupted the general. “Jeannie’s pregnancy was fine, and Dale survived. He’s fourteen now.”

      “Well, I’m glad to hear it,” said Marina, finally. “In fact, it’s the only piece of good news I’ve ever heard from you.”

      Shauna would have given anything to see the general’s expression, but she could not make it out from the reflection on her window.

      “You’ll get to meet Dale,” he said, finally, his voice tinged with pride. “He’s the smartest boy you’ll ever see. Wins first prize at every science fair and competition. Last year he took one of those IQ tests, and his score went through the roof. He’s already doing college physics and math. He’s destined for great things.”

      Shauna shuddered at the thought of what college physics and math might be like. As far as she was concerned, 8th grade math and physics were bad enough.

      “If he takes after his mother, he might even be,” said Marina, interrupting Shauna’s horrifying thoughts on physics.

      Marina’s insult must have hit the mark, because the general did not say another word after that. Shauna felt more awkward than ever, and focused on Tippy, who was now punching the backpack insistently.

      The car stopped briefly by a security checkpoint, and then made a final stop in front of a large, rectangular building.

      “Here we are,” the general mumbled, getting out and marching towards the entrance without waiting for anyone. Marina and Shauna waited for Lendox and Shelby to get out of their car.

      “I take it your conversation was not agreeable?” asked Lendox, scanning Marina’s face.

      “That would be the understatement of the year,” she sighed. “I’ll tell you later.”

      She marched after the general, and Lendox nodded for them to follow.

      “So СКАЧАТЬ