"Brad Ferguson - To Tell The Troof" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ferguson Brad)

scratched his head and thought more furiously than he had ever thought
in his entire life. So much hangs on this, he prayed. Please, God. Just a
little clue. Perhaps these people can sense each otherтАЩs ethics, but I
certainly canтАЩt!
McAleer looked at each one of the three Troof closely. No, there was no
way to tell a yerega from an ilantha by physical differences. Neither sect
wore identifiable clothing or markings; there was no analogue to religious
medals among the Troof. McAleer also knew that he could not ask a
question to which the answer was obvious; any ilantha among the three
Troof would give a correct answer because it could be checked easily. If
the answer could not be checked easily, it would do McAleer no good.
Could McAleer ask a question and rely on audience reaction to gauge
the truthfulness of the answer? He decided he could not; the approach
struck him as unreliable.
McAleer looked to where Edith was standing. She seemed worried, and
there was no help there anywhere. What if he simply asked тАФ wait, wait!
That was it!
Perhaps a minute had gone by. Sethaber didnтАЩt look at all impatient;
good. So far, McAleer remained within the apparent bounds of propriety.
He hoped his approach to the problem kept him there.
тАЬYou, there, Number One,тАЭ McAleer said, pointing. тАЬAre you yerega or
are you ilantha?тАЭ
The Troof opened his mouth to speak. тАЬNo!тАЭ shouted McAleer. тАЬDonтАЩt
tell me. Whisper the answer to Number Two.тАЭ
Sethaber stirred. тАЬThe question is valid, but whispering the answer to
another does not change the rules of the test. You have used up your
question to Number One.тАЭ
тАЬI understand that, Sethaber,тАЭ McAleer said. тАЬMay I continue?тАЭ
Sethaber motioned McAleer to proceed.
тАЬNumber Two,тАЭ McAleer called out. тАЬTell me what Number One said,
and whether you think he was telling you the truth.тАЭ
Number Two squeaked loudly in outrage. тАЬHe tell me he yerega, but he
not! He lie! He ilantha! I am yerega! I tell you truth!тАЭ
Number Three, unbidden, broke in. тАЬNah! They both ilantha. They both
lie to foul up test! I the only yerega here! Believe that! I not lie!тАЭ
McAleer turned to Sethaber. тАЬI have your answer, Sethaber. Number
One is ilantha. Number Two is yerega. Number Three is ilantha.тАЭ
тАЬYou are correct,тАЭ Sethaber said. тАЬWelcome, yerega.тАЭ
The sincere happy squeaking of the yerega Troof and the insincere and
not-so-happy squeals of the ilantha Troof merged into a high-pitched roar
of mass approval.
McAleer went over to Edith and hugged her. тАЬI almost feel
bar-mitzvahed,тАЭ he said.
тАЬCongratulations, yerega,тАЭ Edith said, returning the hug.
Later that night, after the feasting was over, McAleer and Edith shared
another pot of coffee. McAleer had made it himself, because Zweebl was
gone now; the little Troof refused to stay in the employ of a yerega, nor
could McAleer continue to keep an ilantha at the mission. That didnтАЩt stop
McAleer from missing Zweebl already.
тАЬI admire your restraint,тАЭ McAleer said to Edith after their first cup.