"Frank Herbert - Whipping Star" - читать интересную книгу автора (Herbert Brian & Frank)

Whipping Star

Frank Herbert
1969




A BuSab agent must begin by learning the linguistic modes and action limits
(usually self-imposed) of the societies he treats. The agent seeks data on
the functional relationships which derive from our common universe and which
arise from interdependencies. Such interdependencies are the frequent first
victims of word-illusions. Societies based on ignorance of original
interdependencies come sooner or later to stalemate. Too long frozen, such
societies die.

-BuSab Manual


Furuneo was his name. Alichino Furuneo. He reminded, himself of this as he
rode into the city to make the long-distance call. It was wise to firm up the
ego before such a call. He was sixty-seven years old and could remember many
cases where people had lost their identity in the sniggertrance of
communication between star systems. More than the cost and the mind-crawling
sensation of dealing with a Taprisiot transmitter, this uncertainty factor
tended to keep down the number of calls. But Furuneo didn't feel he could
trust anyone else with this call to Jorj X. McKie, Saboteur Extraordinary.

It was 8:08 A.M. local at Furuneo's position on the planet called Cordiality
of the Sfich system.

"This is going to be very difficult, I suspect," he muttered, speaking at (but
not to) the two enforcers he had brought along to guard his privacy.

They didn't even nod, realizing no reply was expected.

It was still cool from the night wind which blew across the snow plains of the
Billy Mountains down to the sea. They had driven here into Division City from
Furuneo's mountain fortress, riding in an ordinary groundcar, not attempting
to hide or disguise their association with the Bureau of Sabotage, but not
seeking to attract attention, either. Many sentients had reason to resent the
Bureau.

Furuneo had ordered the car left outside the city's Pedestrian Central, and
they had come the rest of the way on foot like ordinary citizens.

Ten minutes ago they had entered the reception room of this building. It was
a Taprisiot breeding center, one of only about twenty known to exist in the
universe, quite an honor for a minor planet like Cordiality.