"Edmond Hamilton - Pardon My Nerves" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hamilton Edmond)

First I glanced into the cylinder-shaped delusions like the man in the tele-play. I
barges. There was very little actinium, had thought that the Digger spoke to me.
indicating that no work had been done here All this flashed through my thoughts in
for weeks. an instant. And then the Digger spoke
Beyond the barge-docks were the again.
storehouse for emergency supplies and the тАЬWhat's the matter ? You strip a gear ?тАЭ
emergency shelter for humans. Since none It was then that I noticed something. It
of the huge and ponderous Machs could be was a diaphragm set in the front of the


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Mach's circuit-box beneath its lenses. That It boomed back, тАЬTo the others. You're
wasn't supposed to be there. And the the first to arrive from Outside since the
bellowing voice seemed to come from it. coming of the Liberator.тАЭ
It wasn't my mind after all. The Mach тАЬWho is the Liberator ?тАЭ
was talking to me somehow. But how тАЬThe one who freed you, of course !тАЭ
could it ? No, I was cracking up. the thing bellowed back.
тАЬWell ?тАЭ roared that tremendous voice It didn't make sense to me. Since I
and the huge tusked shovel suddenly couldn't very well get out of the scoop
swung threateningly over me. there was nothing to do but wait till we
reached our destination.

I FOUND my voice. Either I was crazy Eek had fled back to the space-sled
or this Digger could talk. If it could talk when the Digger grabbed me up. It wasn't
it should be able to hear too. that Eek was afraidтАФhe doubtless had
тАЬI just arrivedтАФfrom Earth,тАЭ I managed some plan in his clever devoted little mind
to say. to help me.
тАЬFrom Outside ?тАЭ bellowed the Digger. Soon we came into sight of the shallow
It seemed to become wildly excited. Its ore-beds. I was astounded. There were
shovel swung up and down and it rushed scores of huge Machs here, moving around
closer to me on its tractor-treads. тАЬHow in an aimless throng of mechanical
did you come ?тАЭ monsters. Besides Diggers and Haulers and
тАЬI had a space-sledтАФтАЭ I began, and then Tenders there were all the Crushers and
stopped. The incongruity of it was too Loaders that should have been busy at the
much for me. Here was I, Grag, an work-base.
intelligent person, actually conversing with My Digger rolled into the middle of the
a Digger ! It couldnтАЩt be ! throng and then lowered its scoop to the
тАЬSay, the others will want to hear about ground. As I stepped out of it the huge
this !тАЭ shouted the Digger. тАЬCome on with Mach spoke again.
me !тАЭ It turned swiftly on its treads. тАЬLook here, all you guys ! A new oneтАФ
I hesitated. The Digger instantly from Outside !тАЭ
whipped around again, with a snarling They gathered around, Crushers,
bellow. тАЬYou heard me !тАЭ Diggers, Tenders. Their lens-eyes stared at
Its huge shovel descendedтАФand me. I was like a midget in that assembly of
scooped me up. I rattled about in that looming Machs.
mighty metal scoop as it started swiftly Then a towering Crusher spoke
forward. I, Grag, picked up like a doll ! deafeningly. тАЬHe's so small he must be a
Furious at the indignity I scrambled to toy.тАЭ
my feet with the idea of tearing the crude тАЬOr maybe a model,тАЭ said a Hauler.
Mach girder from girder. But it was all I The fact that they could all speak was