"Alan Dean Foster - With friends like these." - читать интересную книгу автора (Foster Alan Dean)

gestureтАФ"we have changed our mode of existence somewhat since we fought the Veen. We are no longer
geared to the production of war materiel. Incidentally, we bold no grudge against any of you. I
have no idea if my ancestors and yours ever met, let alone battled with one another. We never even
really held animosity toward the Veen. In fact, I'd give a lot to know exactly why they went to
war with us in the first place."
Phrnnx had heard the Professor's explanation and looked expectantly in his direction, but that
worthy remained silent.
"Of course," continued the Terran after a while, "as a gesture of your goodwill we would naturally
expect you to lower the Shield. Despite a hell of a lot of scribbling and figuring, that's one
thing we could never quite do."
"Of course," said Rappan determinedly.
The biped stood. "It will take me a while to convey your message to my superiors. In the meantime,
do feel free to enjoy the countryside and my poor home." He turned and walked into another room.
The female eyed them speculatively,
"I don't suppose any of you gentlemen play bridge?"
Phrnnx was wandering through the nearby forest, following the path made by a cheerful stream. He
had quickly grown bored with studying the simple native household, and, unlike the Professor or
Commander Rappan, the intricacies of Terran "bridge" were a touch more intellectual a pastime than
he wished for. The two scientists had found plenty to keep them occupied profitably, but after
reporting to the ship their accumulated data and the word that things seemed to be progressing
satisfactorily, there had remained little for a communicator to do.
The dense undergrowth led away from the house at a right angle. With the sense of direction his
kind possessed he was not afraid of getting lost, and the damp coolness of the place was the
closest thing he'd found to the rain forests of home. It was full of interesting sounds and new
smells. The native female had assured Hm that no dangerous creatures lurked within its inviting
shadows. He was thoroughly enjoying himself. Orinthorphs and small invertebratesтАФ"insects," they
were calledтАФflitted rapidly from growth to growth. He could have snatched them easily in midair
with his long suckers, but was mindful of strange foods despite the Professor's assurance that the
native organics were edible. Besides, he was not hungry. He strode on in high spirits.
The hike was about to come to an unpleasant end.
The trees appeared to cease abruptly ofi to one side. Espying what seemed to be a glint of
sunlight on water, he turned in that direction. His supposition was correct. In front of him was a
large clearing which bordered on a good-sized lake. In the foreground stood the diminutive figure
of Flip, the native's offspring. He was gazing at a pair of massive, glowering figures in space
armor. These did not fit into the picture.
Yops!
Phrnnx stood paralyzed with shock. The Yop battleship that he thought they had lost near that red
dwarf sat half-in, half-out of the blue-green lake. He assumed it was the same one. Its gunports
were wide open. Troops were clustering around a landing portal on one side of the kilometer-and-a-
half-Iong monster. Dirt had been gouged out on all sides by the sheer mass of the huge vessel.
These two figures in the foreground were doubtlessly scouts.
How in the central chaos had they slipped in past the cruiser's screens? Unless they, too, had
found a way to negate the ShieldтАФand this seemed unlikelyтАФ then they must have entered by way of


file:///F|/rah/Alan%20Dean%20Foster/Foster,%20...20Dean%20-%20With%20Friends%20Like%20These.txt (9 of 89) [7/1/03 12:12:26 AM]
 file:///F|/rah/Alan%20Dean%20Foster/Foster,%20Alan%20Dean%20-%20With%20Friends%20Like%20These.txt

the temporary hole made by the Tpin. A quick glance at the sky showed the now familiar gold tinge
still strong. So they hadn't destroyed the generating equipment on the planet's satellite, then.