"Philip Jose Farmer - Tongues of the Moon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Farmer Phillip Jose)

a strict moralist, at least in sexual matters. When it comes to spilling blood, that's something else."
"I don't know. I do know something Abarbanel didn't think of. That is, whether or not we have polygamy, a
woman isn't always going to bear children by whomever she chooses. The gene potential will have to be used. So, that
means that if a woman has three childrenтАФand I doubt that they'll allow us to limit ourselvesтАФeach will have a
different father. Of course, there's artificial insemination, so... What's the matter? You look upset."
"I couldn't stand the idea of you... that is..."
Ingrid came up to him, put her hands on his shoulders, and looked carefully at him. "If you were serious a
moment ago, why don't you say so?"
He took her into his arms, kissed her a long time. Then, releasing her, he said, "I've known for about a week
that I loved you, Ingrid. But I didn't think that now was the time to start courting. There's too much to do just now;
things are too uncertain."
She gave a little laugh and said, "'If all men were like you in times of trouble, the human race would be extinct.
People don't wait until they're sure the bombs are going to quit bursting. Why do you think that, despite the millions
killed, there were more people on Earth at the end of the Second World War than there were when it started?"
"I don't like to start anything I'm not sure I can finish."
"In some ways, you're worse than Scone," she said. "But I love you."
"I don't want to share you with any other men," he said fiercely.
"I'm glad you don't. I wouldn't like it if you said it was all right, it was for the glory of the state and
humankind. But..."
"But what?" said Broward. Ingrid opened her mouth but closed it when Broward's name was announced over
the IP. He listened, then said, "This is what I've been waiting for. Scone is going to brief us on the meeting with the
representatives from the other bases."
"They're coming here? How did he manage that?"
"He holds the key to the future of man. The Zemlya. The Russ and the Chinese have to play along with him.
But I don't think Scone is going to get what he wants without a long hard struggle."


Clavius is a crater near the south pole of the Moon. It is so wide across that a man standing on its floor in the
center cannot even see its towering walls; they are hidden beyond the curve of the horizon. And the Earth always
hangs just a little above the horizon. It was towards the Earth that those first entering the conference looked. They
could not help it, for Scone had had the ceiling and one wall depolarized for transparency, and those within the room
could see the great globe. Their first thought was what Scone had wanted; the dead Earth made sure of that. All life
there is gone, and we are the survivors. It is up to us to ensure that life does not die entirely in the solar system.
The room itself was carved out of rock and normally was used for recreation. Now, the gaming machines and
tables had been pushed against the wall and about a hundred aluminum folding chairs were arranged in rows facing
the platform. On this was a large rectangular table with eleven chairs which faced the audience. Scone sat in the middle
chair. Immediately on his right was Dahlquist, the Swedish linguist, delegate of the West Europeans (all of whom had
taken refuge in Clavius after their base was wrecked). The four Russian delegates sat on Scone's right; the Chinese, on
his left.
For a while, there was much shuffling around and talking in low tones, then Old Man Dahlquist, so-called
because he was senior by many years to anybody else on the Moon, rose.
He rapped once with a gavel and then spoke in flawless Midwestern English.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you the chairman of this meeting, Colonel Scone."
Scone rose and looked around. There was no applause. He opened his mouth, but before he could say
anything, John Ying, a Chinese delegate, jumped to his feet and spoke excitedly in Mandarin.
"I protest! Under what authority does... ?"
Scone bellowed at him. "Sit down! You accepted my invitation to attend this meeting, and you were told why
you are here! I am chairman, and I will waste no time disputing my right to be so nor the reason for this conference!
Moreover, during this conference, no one who speaks in anything but English will be recognized. Sit down and shut
up until I give you permission to speak!"