"Samuel R. Delany - The Ballad of Beta-2" - читать интересную книгу автора (Delaney Samuel R)

THE BALLAD OF
BETA-2
Samuel R. Delany




I

тАЬQuite simply, the answer isтАФbecause they are there!тАЭ
White light from the helical fixture struck the sharp bones of
the professorтАЩs face.
тАЬButтАжтАЭ began Joneny.
тАЬBut, no,тАЭ the professor cut him off. They were alone in the
office. тАЬIt isnтАЩt that simple, is it? The reason is that many of them
were once there, and they did something that had never been done
beforeтАФthat will never be done againтАФand because remnants of
them are there now. That is why you will study them.тАЭ
тАЬBut, sir,тАЭ Joneny persisted, тАЬthatтАЩs not what I asked. IтАЩm
requesting a personal dispensation that will exempt me from
research work on this unit. I expect to be held accountable for all
examination questions on the Star Folk but IтАЩm already an honors
student and, on the strength of that, IтАЩm asking to skip the detail
work on them. IтАЩm perfectly willing to put in the time on my thesis
topic, the Nukton Civilization of Creton III, or anything else thatтАЩs
reasonable, sir.тАЭ Then, as an afterthought, тАЬI realize it would be a
privileged exemption that only you can grant.тАЭ
тАЬThat is quite correct,тАЭ the professor said coolly; then he
leaned forward. тАЬOn the strength of your тАШhonors,тАЩ JonenyтАФand
youтАЩre more than a good student, youтАЩre an amazing oneтАФIтАЩll listen
to your objections. But I have to admit that thereтАЩs something
about your request that annoys me.тАЭ
Joneny took a breath. тАЬI just donтАЩt want to waste my time on
them, sir. ThereтАЩs so much needed research in a field like Galactic
Anthropology; and, as far as I can see, the Star Folk are just a dead
end, with no significance at all. They were a very minor transition
factor that was eliminated from the cosmic equation even before
its purpose was achieved. Their contributions to the arts were
entirely derivativeтАФand they produced nothing else. All that
remains of them is a barbaric little settlement, if you can call it that,
which the Federation sentimentally allows to exist out near Leffer
VI. There are too many cultures and civilizations just crying to be
researched to waste time poking through dozens of chrome-plated
eggshells, documenting the history of aтАФa bunch of chauvinistic,
degenerate morons. And I donтАЩt care what anyone says, sir. ThatтАЩs
all they are!тАЭ
тАЬWell,тАЭ the professor murmured. тАЬWell. You are vehement
on the subject.тАЭ He glanced at the screen on his desk, flicked a few
notes across it, and then looked sternly at Joneny. тАЬI am not going
to grant your request, but IтАЩll tell you why. In fact, IтАЩll even argue