"Planet Of Twilight (Barbara Hambley)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hambly Barbara)

about. Gambling on what conditions are going to be when you get when?
I'm not saying that the Therans are right," she added, holding up a hand
as the man before her drew breath for an indignant protest.
"What I am saying is that they are supported by the majority of the
population of the planet."
"Who are kept as their slaves by superstition and lies!"
That isn't the Republic's business. Leia straightened her shoulders under
the velvet weight of her robe, seeing, in the flare of Ashgad's anger, the
reflection of what her own reactions would have been at eighteen. But it
shouldn't be that way-She remembered crying to her father, when after a
complicated and emotional court case concerning vampiric Garhoons and their
prey, the prey had elected to return to their vampires. It had taken her a
long time to understand and respect her father's decision to pursue the matter
no further.
"Nam Chorios is not a part of the Republic. Legally, we have no right to
interfere in their affairs."
"Not even to protect the rights of the colonists. The rights of men and
women who...?"
"Who left the Republic," said Leia, "to go live on a world that was not
part of worldo decided to take a chance on a world about which they knew
almost nothing. Everyone knows the deficiencies in the Registry's information.
And the Empire 'protected the rights' of Alzoc III, of Garnib, of Trosh."
Ashgad's broad face reddened. "The cases are nothing alike! We certainly
aren't asking you to enslave a native population! Just to ensure those who
wish it the right to a decent livelihood."
"The majority of Nam Chorios's population voted not to affiliate with the
Republic," said Leia. "And that, the colonists did know. We have no right to
disregard the wishes of the majority. I have no wish to sound hard-hearted,
Master Ashgad, but the Newcomers are not being constrained in any fashion that
I have heard of."
"Except that their lives are there. All their assets, which with the gun
stations in operation they can't even take with them should they leave. Their
stake in the future is on that planet."
"So is the stake of the original inhabitants, Master Ashgad."
The big man stood for a moment, one hand on his hip, the other on the
back of his chair, head down, one dark lock of his thick hair hanging over a
forehead furrowed with frustration and thought.
Among the dusky leaves of his miniature boavet, Dzym had fallen silent
again, gloved hands folded, a small frown of concentration furrowing his
smooth forehead. He hadn't, as far as Leia could discover, even made
secretarial notes to himself in a hide-out mike to supplement a recorded
transcript of the interview.
"What I will do is this," said Leia, after a moment's silence. "When I
return to Coruscant, I'll authorize an investigation team to see what's really
going on down on the planet and to explore other options, if possible. We may
be able to negotiate with the Therans who control the gun stations."
"No one negotiates with the Therans." Fierce bitterness flashed like a
dagger in Ashgad's voice and glinted in his green eyes. "They're fanatical
lunatics who've had that entire population of credulous fools under their
spell for generations."