《Grimes 042 The Gateway to Never 》作者：- A. Bertram Chandler【E

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THE GATEWAY TO NEVER A. Bertram Chandler I Commodore John Grimes did not like Customs Officers; to his way of thinking they ranked with, but even below, Tax Collectors. The Tax Collector, however, is loved by nobody-with the possible exceptions of his wife and children-whereas the Customs Officer makes his impact only upon the traveling public, among whom professional spacemen are numbered. Grimes was not at all pleased when his latest secretary, Miss Pahvani, told him that the Port Forlorn Chief of Customs wished to see him. It was not that he was especially busy; the only thing to occupy his attention was the Stores Requisition sent in by the Chief Officer to Rim Mandrake, through most of the items on which he had been happily running his blue pencil. He looked up from his desk and said irritably, "Tell him I'm busy." Miss Pahvani treated him to her impersonation of a frightened fawn. "But, sir, he says that it is important. And he is the Chief Collector." "And I'm the Chief Astronautical Superintendent of Rim Runners. And the Officer allegedly Commanding the Rim Worlds Naval Reserve." "But, sir, he is waiting." "Mphm." Miss Pahvani's brother