"Frank Herbert - Direct Descent" - читать интересную книгу автора (Herbert Brian & Frank)

memory came back to him. "The first rule of the Galactic Library Code is to
obey all direct orders of the government in power. For the preservation of
the Library, this must be the primary command."

"What does it mean?" demanded Patterson.

"It's just words that --"

"More than words!" said Patterson. A faint color crept into his old cheeks.
"That rule has kept this Library alive for eight thousand years."

"But the government can't --"

"When you're as old as I am," said Patterson, "you'll realize that governments
don't know what they can't do until after they cease to be governments. Each
government carries the seeds of its own destruction."

"So we let them censor us," said Coogan.
"Perhaps," said Patterson, "if we're lucky. The new Grand Regent is the
leader of the Gentle Ignorance Party. He says he'll censor us. The trouble
is, our information indicates he's bent on destroying the Library as some kind
of an example."

It took a moment for Coogan to accept the meaning of the words. "Destroy --"

"Put it to the torch," said Patterson. "His censor is his chief general and
hatchetman."

"Doesn't he realize this is more than a Library?" asked Coogan.

"I don't know what he realizes," said Patterson. "But we're faced with a
primary emergency and, to complicate matters, the entire staff is in a
turmoil. They're hiding arms and calling in collection ships against my
express orders. That Toris Sil-Chan has been around telling every --"

"Toris!"

"Yes, Toris. Your boon companion or whatever he is. He's leading this
insurrection and I gather that he --"

"Doesn't he realize the Library can't fight a war without risking
destruction?" asked Coogan.

Patterson sighed. "You're one of the few among the new generation who
realizes that," he said.

"Where's Toris?" demanded Coogan. "I'll --"

"There isn't time right now," said Patterson. "The Grand Regent's hatchetman
is due any minute."