"Gordon R. Dickson - 8 Short Stories and Novellas" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dickson Gordon R)

southern continent. The dot was the human Base camp position.
"You could take a coastal route," said Roy, studying it.
"This one doesn't put us more than eight hundred nautical miles from
land at the midpoint between the continents."
"Well, it's your neck," said Roy, with a light-heartedness as ominous as
the noise of the standby burners. "Oh, by the way, guess who we've got
here? Just landed. Your uncle, Member Wagnall."
Aha! said Chuck. But he said it to himself. "Tommy?" he said aloud. "Is
he handy, there?"
"Right here," answered Roy, and backed out of the screen to allow a
heavy, graying-haired man with a kind, broad face to take his place.
"Chuck, boy, how are you?" said the man.
"Never better, Tommy," said Chuck. "How's politicking?"
"The appropriations committee's got me out on a one-man junket to
check up on you lads," said Earth District Member 439 Thomas L. Wagnall.
"I promised your mother I'd say hello to you if I got to this Base. What's all
this about having this project named after you?"
"Oh, not after me," said Chuck. "Its full name isn't Project Charlie, it's
Project Big Brother Charlie. With us humans as Big Brother."
"I don't seem to know the reference."
"Didn't you ever hear that story?" said Chuck. "About three brothers тАУ the
youngest were twins and fought all the time. The only thing that stopped
them was their big brother Charlie coming on the scene."
"I see," said Tommy. "With the Tomah and the Lugh as the two twins.
Very apt. Let's just hope Big Brother can be as successful in this instance."
"Amen," said Chuck. "They're a couple of touchy peoples."
"Well," said Tommy. "I was going to run out where you are now and
surprise you, but I understand you've got the only atmosphere pot of the
outfit."
"You see?" said Chuck. "That proves we need more funds and
equipment. Talk it up for us when you get back, Tommy. Those little airfoils
you saw on the field when you came in have no range at all."
 "Well, we'll see," said Tommy. "When do you expect to get here?"
"I'll be taking off in a few minutes. Say four hours."
"Good. I'll buy you a drink of diplomatic scotch when you get in."
Chuck grinned.
"Bless the governmental special supply. And you. See you, Tommy."
"I'll be waiting," said the Member. "You want to talk to your chief, again?"
He looked away outside the screen range. "He says nothing more. So
long, Chuck."
"So long."
They cut connections. Chuck drew a deep breath. "Hold Seventy-nine,"
he murmured to his memory, and went back to check that item on his list.
He had barely completed his full check when a roll of drums from outside
the ship, penetrating even over the sound of the burners, announced that
the Tomah envoy was entering the ship. Chuck got up and went back
through the door that separated the cockpit from the passenger and freight
sections.
The envoy had just entered through the lock and was standing with his
great claw almost in salute. He most nearly resembled, like all the Tomah, a