"Frank Herbert - Escape Felicity" - читать интересную книгу автора (Herbert Brian & Frank)

should.
 The five straightened suddenly and without a backward look, returned to their steam wagon and climbed
into the cab.

What test did I fail?Beirut wondered.

Silence settled over the scene.



In the course of becoming a B-ship pilot, Beirut had gained fame for a certain pungency of speech. He
paused a moment to practice some of his more famed selections, then took stock of his situation -
standing here exposed at the foot of the ship while the unpredictable natives remained in their steam
wagon. He clambered back through the port, sealed it, and jacked into the local computer outlet for a
heart-to-heart conference.

'The buzzing item was likely a timepiece,' the computer said. The creature in possession of it was
approximately two millimeters taller than his tallest companion. 'There are indications this one is the leader
of the group.'

'Leader schmeader,' Beirut said. 'What's this toogayala they keep yelling?'

From long association with Beirut , the computer had adopted a response pattern to meet the rhetorical
question or the question for which there obviously was no answer. 'Tut, tut,' it said.

'You sound like my old Aunt Martha,' Beirut said. 'They screamed that toogayala. It's obviously
important.'

'When they noted your hand, that is when they raised their voices to the highest decibel level thus far
recorded here,' the computer said.

'But why?'

'Possible answer,' the computer said. 'You have five fingers.'

'Five,' Beirut said. 'Five ... five ... five ... '

'We detect only five heavenly bodies here,' the computer said. 'You have noted that the skies are
otherwise devoid of stars. The rapid companion is overhead right now, you know.'

'Five.' Beirut said.

'This planet,' the computer said, 'the three hot gaseous and plasma bodies and the other companion to
this planet's sun.'

Beirut looked at his hand, flexed the fingers.

'They may think you are a deity,' the computer said. 'They have six fingers; you have five.'

'Empty skies except for three suns,' Beirut said.