"Foster, Alan Dean - Flinx - Bloodhype" - читать интересную книгу автора (Foster Alan Dean)

reflected. It simply disappears, as measurements of the underlying basalt
seem to indicate. Somehow, in the space of a mere section or two of itself,
it absorbs all radiation or otherwise removes it from the understandable
physical universe . . .

"Two days ago First?Geologist Onidd CRCRS and I left the ship to perform
what we innocently believed would be the simple task of removing a few
samples of tire thing for analytical purposes."

"Didn't have much luck, did you?" murmured Navigator Paayton still chewing
on his tail and staring out the port.

"Hardly," said Carmot drily. "When I first attempted to touch it, it drew
away from my fingers. I believe my sense of surprise was rather
peremptorily expressed over the communit."

"Your command of the invective was something of a surprise," admitted
Laccota.

"Um. Yes. After several similar attempts at different spots along its
border failed, I walked off and took a long run at the thing. The lower
gravity made such an idea seem feasible. It retreated completely, with
incredible swiftness, just before my boots made contact with its surface...

"Geologist Onidd observed that it was noticeably thicker around its new
edge. Therefore we established that it was folding back on itself and not
perfuming some mystifying vanishing act. Onidd then removed his beamer and
attempted to cut a piece from the main body. The results were
enlightening..

"While it had retreated precipitately from physical contact, it made no
effort to dodge the lethal beamer. Onidd concentrated his beam on one thin
spot for several time. parts. No effect was observed. The thing did not
cut, bum, smoke, or otherwise take notice of a sharp?focus beamer that can
cut through most metals and heat armor?plate red?hot. I then joined the
efforts of my own beamer to Onidd's. We might as well have been beaming at
the sun...

"Now, as to the problem of its aliveness, about which there has been some
question. If it is alive, it is a totally alien sort of aliveness that
permits itself to be energy beamed at close range yet refuses to allow a
mere touch from a living being."

"Your conclusions," prompted Laccota impatiently.

"Even so, I believe it lives. It may draw sustenance from the sun, although
I find no evidence of a photosynthesis?type reaction, and certainly no sign
of chlorophyll. I do not see how else it can draw food. The basalt revealed
when it drew back from us has been minutely examined. It exhibits no
abnormalities and is in no way different from untouched samples taken