一个核战争概率清晨观察报告.pdfVIP

FontFontColorFontSize

BackgroundColor

JustaHint

By

DavidBrin

ItwasexactlysevenA.M.whenFedermanfinishedtypingthelastdataentry.The

smallconsoleflashedaconfirmationand,severalmiaway,thecentralprocessor

begancorrelatingtheresultsofthepreviouseveningsobservationrun.

Federmanwincedashestretchedintheswivelchair,hisspinecracking.Age

seemedtomakeeverystrainandpopacruelreminder,asifdecaywereaudibly

callingoutitsterritoriality.

Theclassicalmusicstationyingonhisdesktopradiobegananupdateofthe

morningsheadlines.

Theweatherwouldbebeautifulovermostofthecountry.Thechanceofrainin

thenearbyareawassthantwentypercent.Thecurrentprobabilityestimateforthe

likelihoodofnuclearwarthisyearstillhoveredaroundtwentypercent,also.

LizBrowningbackedin,pushingthedooropenwithonefootasshebalanceda

cardboardtraywithcoffee,doughnuts,andthemorningnewspaper.

Good,shesaid,layingherloaddownonhisdesk.Iknewyoucouldfinish

withoutme.Idontknowhowyoustayupallnightreducingdatawithoutgetting

hungry.Ijusthadtogetsomefood!

Asamatteroffact,Federmanhadstartednoticingagrowlingemptinessinhis

stomachalmostthemomentthelastfigurehadbeentyped.Ifhisgraduatestudent

hadbeengladtolethimfinishalone,hewasjustashappyshehadbroughtbackthe

goodies.

Itslove,Liz.Anyonewhostaysupallnighthastobeinlove…inthiscasewith

astronomy.Eitherthatorhescrazyorinthearmy.

ElizahBrowninggrinnedironically,leavingcrinkledsmilelinesaroundhereyes.

Herstraightbrownhairwasbraidedbehind