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

"There wasn't a word of this out on Hesperides," said Coogan. "What's this
Grand Regent's name?"

"Leader Adams," said Patterson.

"Never heard of him," said Coogan. "Who's the hatchetman?"

"His name's Pchak."

"Pchak what?"

"Just Pchak."


He was a coarse man with overdrawn features, none of the refinements of the
inner worlds. A brown toga almost the same color as his skin was belted
around him. Two slitted eyes stared out of a round, pushed-in face. He came
into Patterson's office followed by two men in gray togas, each wearing a
blaster at the belt.

"I am Pchak," he said.

Not a pretty specimen, thought Coogan. There was something chilling about the
stylized simplicity of the man's dress. It reminded Coogan of a battle
cruiser stripped down for action.
Director Patterson came around his desk, shoulders bent, walking slowly as
befitted his age. "We are honored," he said.

"Are you?" asked Pchak. "Who is in command here?"

Patterson bowed. "I am Director Caldwell Patterson."

Pchak's lips twisted into something faintly like a smile. "I would like to
know who is responsible for those insulting replies to our communications
officer. 'This planet is devoted to knowledge and research!' Who said that?"

"Why --" Patterson broke off, wet his lips with his tongue, "I said that."

The man in the brown toga stared at Patterson, said, "Who is this other
person?" He hooked a thumb toward Coogan.

"This is Vincent Coogan," said Patterson. "He has just returned from the
Hesperides Group to be on hand to greet you. Mr. Coogan is my chief assistant
and successor."

Pchak looked at Coogan. "Out scavenging with the rest of the pack rats," he
said. He turned back to Patterson. "But perhaps there will be need of a
successor."