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

team of yerega Troof and was much too happy at her work to leave
Henderson. McAleer was glad about that; he would miss her terribly if she
left.
тАЬHey, Father!тАЭ came a cry. тАЬWelcome to field!тАЭ
 McAleer spotted Klatho, the field superintendent, coming toward him.
The priest greeted him warmly. тАЬGood to see you again,тАЭ he said. тАЬAny
word on whoтАЩs aboard?тАЭ
тАЬNo VIPs,тАЭ Klatho answered. тАЬCharter flight, though. No passenger list
broadcast. My boys handle landing okay. I come to watch. This first craft
to land here since Edith crash, you know. Very big deal.тАЭ
тАЬI know,тАЭ McAleer said. тАЬI wonder whoтАЩs aboard?тАЭ
The boat settled softly onto the field; its engines died. Several Troof
quickly rolled a gangway up to the forward port airlock.
A tall, thin, unsmiling man in clerical garb emerged.
тАЬHey, that guy dressed like you,тАЭ Klatho said. тАЬAnother priest?тАЭ
тАЬSeems to be,тАЭ McAleer said. тАЬIn fact, heтАЩs got тАШmissionaryтАЩ written all
over him.тАЭ
тАЬYeah? Where?тАЭ
тАЬJust an expression. IтАЩd better meet him, Klatho.тАЭ
McAleer walked to the foot of the gangway, extending his hand.
тАЬWelcome to Henderson. IтАЩm Mort McAleer.тАЭ
The cleric frowned. тАЬOh. The competition.тАЭ He shook hands limply. тАЬIтАЩm
Harold Smith. Lutheran, in case you were curious.тАЭ
тАЬWell, to tell you the truth, I was. IтАЩm Orthodox Catholic myself.тАЭ
тАЬI know,тАЭ Smith said unpleasantly. тАЬI read our report, thank you. YouтАЩve
been dealing with these Troof for awhile, havenтАЩt you?тАЭ
тАЬJust about a year now. I think youтАЩll find them pleasant people.тАЭ
The two began walking toward the admin building. Suddenly, McAleer
spotted Zweebl emerging from the crowd.
тАЬHere comes someone I know,тАЭ McAleer said. тАЬHis name is Zweebl тАФ тАЭ
тАЬтАШZweeblтАЩ? What kind of name is that? HavenтАЩt you managed to
persuade any of these aliens to adopt good, Christian names?тАЭ
тАЬI suppose not.тАЭ McAleer fell silent.
тАЬWell, thatтАЩll change,тАЭ Smith said firmly as Zweebl reached them. The
crowd of Troof watched.
тАЬGreetings,тАЭ the little native said to the newcomer. тАЬI am Zweebl,
experienced in serving all sorts of Terran needs. Have worked for Fed
exploration party, Fed trade group. Can I be of service?тАЭ
 тАЬDepends,тАЭ said Smith. тАЬYou know anything about mission work?тАЭ
тАЬCould learn. I quick study.тАЭ
Smith considered it. To McAleer, he said, тАЬYou know this Troof?тАЭ
тАЬI havenтАЩt seen him in some months,тАЭ McAleer said carefully, тАЬbut his
fellows speak well of him. They say heтАЩs a hard worker.тАЭ
тАЬHmmm.тАЭ Smith scratched his chin. тАЬAt least it speaks decent
Standard. Okay.тАЭ Smith stooped to address Zweebl. тАЬYouтАЩre hired, on a
temporary basis. I wonтАЩt pay you much; the main rewards of the job will
be spiritual. You understand?тАЭ
Zweebl nodded. тАЬDeal. Shake hands, Terran fashion?тАЭ
тАЬWhy not?тАЭ Smith returned. They shook.
The crowd saw the handshake and melted away.