"Daniel F. Galouye - Dark Universe" - читать интересную книгу автора (Galouye Daniel F)

DARK UNIVERSE
by Daniel F. Galouye


A Bantam Book / published September 1961

Copyright, 1961, by Daniel F. Galouye

All rights reserved.

Published simultaneously in the United States and Canada.



DARK UNIVERSE



CHAPTER ONE

Pausing beside the hanging needle of rock, Jared tapped it with his
lance. Precise, staccatolike tones filled the passageway.
"Hear it?" he coaxed. "It's right up ahead."
"I don't hear a thing." Owen edged forward, stumbled and fell lightly
against Jared's back. "Nothing but mud and hanging stones."
"No pits?"
"None that _I_ can hear."
"There's one not twenty paces off. Better stick close to me."
Jared tapped the rock again, inclining an ear so he would miss none of
the subtle echoes. There it was, all right--massive and evil as it clung to a
nearby ledge listening to their advance.
Ahead were no more needles of rock he could conveniently tap. The last
echoes had told him that much. So he produced a pair of clickstones from his
pouch and brought them together sharply in the hollow of his hand,
concentrating on the returning tones. To his right, his ears traced out great
formations of rocks, folded one over the other and reflecting a confusing
pattern of sound.
Owen clutched his shoulder as they pressed forward. "It's too smart
We'll never catch up with it."
"Of course we will. It'll get annoyed and attack sooner or later. Then
there'll be one less soubat to contend with."
"But Radiation! It's pitch silent! I can't even hear where I'm going!"
"What do you think I'm using clickstones for?"
"I'm used to the central echo caster."
Jared laughed. "That's the trouble with you pre-Survivors. Depend too
much on the familiar things."
Owen's sarcastic snort was justified. For Jared, at twentyseven
pregnancy periods of age, was not only his senior by less than two gestations,
but also was still a pre-Survivor himself.
Drawing up beneath the ledge, Jared unslung his bow. Then he handed Owen