"Edmond Hamilton - The Godmen" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hamilton Edmond)

"You look for Brai?тАЭ she said breathlessly.

Harlow was instantly alert. тАЬI want to talk to him, that's all. Do you know him?"

"I am Yrra,тАЭ said the girl. тАЬI am Brai's sister."

Harlow took his hands off her. He glanced back toward the moving torches, but they were moving into
the town, not toward him. Yet he was sure there were still watchers there, and he kept his voice down
when he spoke.

"I was beginning to doubt whether there was a Brai. Where is he?"

Yrra talked in a rush that he could hardly understand. тАЬThey are holding him a prisoner. N'Kann and the
Council. He was already under disapproval, and when your ship came they seized him and hid him
away."

"For God's sake, why?"

"So that he could not talk to you of the Vorn as he had talked to the other Earthman,тАЭ she answered.

"To Dundonald?тАЭ Harlow felt a kindling excitement. тАЬListen, YrraтАФwhat did your brother tell
Dundonald? About the Vorn, I mean."

She was silent a moment. тАЬThere are only legends. That is all Brai knew, all any of us know."

"But the legends? Do they speak of where the Vorn come from, where their native star is?"

"Yes. They do,тАЭ she said. тАЬIt is said that long ago some of the Vorn who came to our world spoke in
their own wayтАФwith some of our people, and told them things."

"Then you know as much as your brother on that point!тАЭ Harlow said. тАЬGood. You can tell me what he
told Dundonald, about the origin-world of the Vorn."

"I will not tell you,тАЭ said Yrra flatly.

"Why not? You mean you're superstitious too about the Vorn?"

Her reply was edged with pride. тАЬWe are not all as backward here as N'Kann. My brother is a student
and a thinker. He would like to see our world become more civilized. That is why he talked so eagerly to
the other EarthmanтАФDundonald."

"All right, so you're not superstitious,тАЭ Harlow said impatiently. тАЬThen why won't you tell me?"

She caught his arm. тАЬListen, EarthmanтАФ"

"The name is Harlow,тАЭ he interrupted. тАЬGo ahead."

"It is this, Harlow. I am afraid for my brother. They said N'Kann and the othersтАФthat he was only
locked up to keep him from talking with you, that he would be released when you left. But I fear that in
their superstitious anger, they may kill him."