"Bester, Alfred - Biped Reegan" - читать интересную книгу автора (Bester Alfred)

Our research legions are at present investigating these torches, Imperial
Maternity. They consist of large tanks which the bipeds strap over their backs.
From the tanks lead two hoses which join in a metal nozzle held in the hand. It
is believed that two kinds of substance are carried in different compartments of
the tank, and when these substances are mingled at the nozzle, they burst into
flame.
"Here is the plan," Reegan said. "We go out through the north gate. From there
we. . ."
At this point he uttered an exclamation and Spy-alpha telecast that he had been
spotted by biped Reegan. All of us received the blurred impression that he was
fleeing rapidly for cover, and then his telecasts ceased. So passed another
happy sacrifice for your Imperial Maternity.
Commander-lambda immediately dispatched Spy-zeta and Spy-zeta-prime to the
citadel of the bipeds to break through along the came route that Spy-alpha had
worked out. Meanwhile the scout legion was advanced slightly to await the first
appearance of the biped sortie and report its direction.
The sickle of hills, as your Imperial Maternity doubtless knows, is the length
of eight hundred and eight bipeds. It is a perfect formation, the arc of a
circle, and at each point, the same distance from the bipeds' citadel as it is
long, The height of the hills vary, the tallest being the central flat-topped
peak which covers the mouth of the caverns.
The hills are not steep, for they lead down toward the-citadel in a gentle slope
which makes our attack easier. Moreover the slope is entirely covered with a low
dry vegetation which makes for better concealment.
It was an hour after first-light that the scout legion sighted Reegan and the
squad. They immediately telecast back and we saw that they were headed due north
toward the tall central peak of the hills. Although we had nothing to fear from
the bipeds in the long run, it was judged advisable to keep them as far as
possible from the cavern mouth, lest they disrupt the mechanism which is our
inspiration and very life, as you are aware.
Marshal-alpha, on the left flank, suggested that he be permitted to show his
troops so as to lure the bipeds to that side of the hills, and permission was
immediately granted by Commander-lambda who, at the same time, ordered
Marshal-delta to begin moving troops from the left center toward the left flank
to cover the gap that would be created by the maneuver.
At the order your Imperial Maternity's troops clambered to the heights of the
dry vegetation by the tens of thousands, and permitted the bright light to
glisten on their jet chiton. Almost immediately, the shimmer of light was
noticed by the bipeds, who halted and consulted. Fortunately our scout legions
were thick in the neighborhood and partially able to translate the bipeds'
communication at that important crisis.
The biped Reegan said: "Hell, thousands of them!"
"Lucky for us," said a second. "We can burn up the (word not understood by the
scout legion) by the millions without even trying. It's easy."
"Yeah, " said Reegan, "it's too easy. That's what makes me suspicious. The
trouble with you guys is that you never figure these little black vermin can
think. I tell you they can, They're smart. Smarter than we or they have ever
been!"
Nevertheless they turned west toward Marshal-alpha's exposed troops and began to
advance. Inasmuch as their plan was designed to delay our attack for three hours