"Eshbach, Lloyd Arthur - Overlord Of Earth" - читать интересную книгу автора (Eshbach Lloyd Arthur)

against a hard, smooth surface. Arms linking mechanically, they rolled over,
tumbling away from the folds of the synthane 'chute. Training made their
movements swift and sure--and in moments they sprang free of the mass of cloth.
Grimly silent, they dropped prone upon the plastic runway, rocket blasters
gripped in their hands. Simple weapons, these, designed for a specific job--that
of getting into the tower.
With his left hand Kerry drew a small, tubular flare from a belt compartment,
thrust a finger through a ring at one end and began counting slowly. A minute
must pass....
As the seconds dragged by, Kerry's straining senses caught faint sounds somehow
penetrating through the incessant crash and rattle of gunfire--soft thuds of
rubber-soled shoes, the swish of yards of synthane; then as the minute neared
its end the faint sounds ceased. All the troopers should have landed
now...Seconds ....
With one swift movement Kerry flung the flare far from him, retaining the ring
release, and watched through slitted eyelids. Searingly a brilliant white glare
burst the blackness asunder to be followed instantly by deeper blackness; and
upon the retina of every man's eyes was stamped a photographic picture of their
surroundings. Kerry saw black mounds dotting the plastic everywhere--saw the
glistening smoothness of the blued steel that blocked the entrance into the
Citadel.
With the speed of thought Kerry pointed his rocket blaster and squeezed its
release, sending the single powerful charge of the weapon hissing meteorlike
toward the barrier. It struck with a crackling report, that merged into a single
earsplitting blast as the weapon in the hand of every paratrooper spoke. Most of
the shells struck the target--and where they struck, streamers and tongues and
droplets of white hot fire bit savagely into the steel. Nothing made of metal
could long withstand that concentrated inferno of heat.
As one the black-clad horde leaped erect and charged toward the door, running in
a weaving crouch. Useless rocket blasters clattered to the runway to be replaced
by lethal Ghormley automatics with their hundred rounds of explosive pellets. As
they ran, they formed into an irregular wedge with Kerry Kord at its apex.
Through the widening slits and gaping holes in the door Kerry saw the interior
of the Council Hall, and at its far end the incredible splendor of Andrev's
throne. The space within the great room was a bedlam of scurrying men and women,
varicolored lights gleaming on the bare flesh and scanty attire of the decadent
rulers.
As he ran, Kerry drew a grenade from his belt and held it in readiness, his
fingers on the firing pin. Great gaping holes now appeared in the door, molten
steel dripping from their brightly burning edges; as he drew close, Kerry paused
momentarily and hurled the bomb through the opening. A breathless instant--a
bursting, rending roar of flame and yellow-green smoke--and Kerry hurtled
swiftly through the ragged ring of flame!



CHAPTER II of Overlord of Earth