"Edmond Hamilton - Captain Future 23 - The Harpers of Titan" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hamilton Edmond)

"That is true," he said. "That's why
they killed him. He was the leader.
With him gone - "Harker's broad
hands made a gesture of utter loss.
"Then it must not be known that
Keogh died."
Curt said harshly, "No! Simon, you
can't do it!"
"Why not, Curtis? You are
perfectly capable of completing the
operation."
"They've killed the man once.
They'll be ready to do it again. Simon,
you. can't risk yourself! Even if I
could do the operation - no!"
Something queerly pleading came
into Curt's gray eyes. "This is my kind
of a job, Simon. Mine and Grag's and
Otho's. Let us do it."
"And how will you do it?" Simon
asked. "By force? By reasoning? You
are not omnipotent, Curtis. Nor are
H
Grag and Otho. You, all three of you,
would be going into certain death, and
even more certain defeat. And I know
you. You would go."
Simon paused. It seemed to him
suddenly that he had gone mad, that
he must be mad to contemplate what
he was about to do. And yet, it was
the only way - the only possible
chance of preventing an irretrievable
disaster.
Simon knew what the Harpers
could do, in the wrong hands. He
knew what would happen to the
Earthmen in New Town. And he knew
too what retribution for that would
overtake the many guiltless people of
Moneb, as well as the few guilty ones.
He glanced beyond Harker and saw
Grag standing there, and Otho beside
him, his green eyes very bright, and
Simon thought, I made them both, I
and Roger Newton. I gave them hearts
and minds and courage. Some day
they will perish, but it will not be
because I failed them.
And there was Curt, stubborn,