Read Online Spaceport West by Giles Chanot - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Giles Chanot
Tags: Fiction & Literature
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superhuman speed began shinning up the scaffolding that surrounded the aluminium skeleton of the biome.
“Wow, look at him go!” shouted Aster gleefully.
“Yeah, handy little fella isn’t he?”
“You know, I think he likes the freedom of the colony. Back on Earth he would be just another menial android - here, well he’s our equal really.”
“You’re not getting soppy about the droids, are you Aster?” teased Sky.
As Aster watched Hank cheerfully going about his duties with precision and speed, she observed that actually, yes, her attitude to his kind was changing. Back home it was tempting to see them as a slightly infantile nuisance, but that simply wasn’t appropriate here. For one thing, the human colonists depended on the androids to make the base operate safely. And their can-do attitude was a breath of fresh air compared to the could-do-if-I-could-be-bothered-but-first-I-need-to-make-an-acerbic-comment attitude of most of Aster’s male colleagues.
8. Container Cantina
Back in base camp, Sian set about editing the video footage they had captured. She deleted the audio track and instead overlaid a recording of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonatas . The TV producers back on Earth can decide what to make of that, she thought to herself.
“So Pevensey, when you’re done with that, are you going to join us down at the Cantina?” asked Detroit.
“Oh yeah sure, I’ve heard about this place, sounds like a laugh. Give me a minute to upload this video.”
“Have you asked Freddie?” Aster asked Sky.
“Nope but I can if you want.”
“I’ll get him,” replied Aster.
A few minutes later the five of them made their way through the aluminium tunnel that connected the living quarters to a few containers that had been welded together and re-purposed as a bar.
RULES FOR DRINKING
UK Space Command encourages all off-Earth personnel to cultivate a positive approach to downtime leisure pursuits, as it has been recognised that social interaction leads to stronger interpersonal bonding and more effective teamwork.
However, it must be noted that excessive alcohol consumption is both unhealthy to the individual and can threaten the safety of the wider community. The following rules for drinking are therefore presented here as friendly guidance:
i) On no account consume more that your own bodyweight of any beverage in a 24 hour period.
ii) When considering which alcoholic beverage to purchase, take a moment to observe the traffic light symbol on the side, and avoid drinks with a red light.
iii) If you don’t know what a traffic light is, you are too young to drink.
iv) If you observe a blurry or indistinct traffic light, this is usually an indication that you have had enough to drink.
v) Never, under any circumstances, accept a drink from an android. They are, in all probability, only trying to be friendly, but most models are sadly naive in the ways of humans, and fail to appreciate the subtleties of the drinking culture.
UK Guide to Space, 2025 Edition
“Welcome to Container Cantina!” yelled Detroit above the din of the music.
“Wow, this really lives up to my expectations!” yelled Sian back.
“I’m guessing you weren’t expecting much then.”
“Spot on there Aster!”
Sky moseyed on up to the bar, which Sergey and two of his compatriots were leaning against, a row of vodka shots in front of them. They nodded to acknowledge Sky’s arrival and he slapped Sergey on the back in a male-bonding type way. He then politely yelled at the android bartender to turn the music down slightly.
“I’m sorry sir, I can’t hear you because of this loud music!” the android yelled in return.
Sky leant over the bar and turned the music down himself, grinning at the android. The bartender looked affronted by this invasion of his personal domain, then understood and grinned widely back.
“There, that’s a bit better. Now then my good man, have you got a drinks list?”
“Here you are
“Wow, look at him go!” shouted Aster gleefully.
“Yeah, handy little fella isn’t he?”
“You know, I think he likes the freedom of the colony. Back on Earth he would be just another menial android - here, well he’s our equal really.”
“You’re not getting soppy about the droids, are you Aster?” teased Sky.
As Aster watched Hank cheerfully going about his duties with precision and speed, she observed that actually, yes, her attitude to his kind was changing. Back home it was tempting to see them as a slightly infantile nuisance, but that simply wasn’t appropriate here. For one thing, the human colonists depended on the androids to make the base operate safely. And their can-do attitude was a breath of fresh air compared to the could-do-if-I-could-be-bothered-but-first-I-need-to-make-an-acerbic-comment attitude of most of Aster’s male colleagues.
8. Container Cantina
Back in base camp, Sian set about editing the video footage they had captured. She deleted the audio track and instead overlaid a recording of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonatas . The TV producers back on Earth can decide what to make of that, she thought to herself.
“So Pevensey, when you’re done with that, are you going to join us down at the Cantina?” asked Detroit.
“Oh yeah sure, I’ve heard about this place, sounds like a laugh. Give me a minute to upload this video.”
“Have you asked Freddie?” Aster asked Sky.
“Nope but I can if you want.”
“I’ll get him,” replied Aster.
A few minutes later the five of them made their way through the aluminium tunnel that connected the living quarters to a few containers that had been welded together and re-purposed as a bar.
RULES FOR DRINKING
UK Space Command encourages all off-Earth personnel to cultivate a positive approach to downtime leisure pursuits, as it has been recognised that social interaction leads to stronger interpersonal bonding and more effective teamwork.
However, it must be noted that excessive alcohol consumption is both unhealthy to the individual and can threaten the safety of the wider community. The following rules for drinking are therefore presented here as friendly guidance:
i) On no account consume more that your own bodyweight of any beverage in a 24 hour period.
ii) When considering which alcoholic beverage to purchase, take a moment to observe the traffic light symbol on the side, and avoid drinks with a red light.
iii) If you don’t know what a traffic light is, you are too young to drink.
iv) If you observe a blurry or indistinct traffic light, this is usually an indication that you have had enough to drink.
v) Never, under any circumstances, accept a drink from an android. They are, in all probability, only trying to be friendly, but most models are sadly naive in the ways of humans, and fail to appreciate the subtleties of the drinking culture.
UK Guide to Space, 2025 Edition
“Welcome to Container Cantina!” yelled Detroit above the din of the music.
“Wow, this really lives up to my expectations!” yelled Sian back.
“I’m guessing you weren’t expecting much then.”
“Spot on there Aster!”
Sky moseyed on up to the bar, which Sergey and two of his compatriots were leaning against, a row of vodka shots in front of them. They nodded to acknowledge Sky’s arrival and he slapped Sergey on the back in a male-bonding type way. He then politely yelled at the android bartender to turn the music down slightly.
“I’m sorry sir, I can’t hear you because of this loud music!” the android yelled in return.
Sky leant over the bar and turned the music down himself, grinning at the android. The bartender looked affronted by this invasion of his personal domain, then understood and grinned widely back.
“There, that’s a bit better. Now then my good man, have you got a drinks list?”
“Here you are
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