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

'On the ground?' Beirut asked.
'Yes.'
'Is it safe?'
'Of course.'
'Why're they laughing?'
'They're laughing at themselves. You tricked them, made them jump. This is definitely laughter.'
Hesitantly, Beirut moved to Autoga's side, sat down. Autoga stopped grunting, put a hand on Beirut 's shoulder, spoke to his companions. With a millisecond delay, the computer began translating: 'This god-self-creation is a good Joe, boys. His accent is lousy, but he has a sense of humor.'
'Are you sure of that translation?' Beirut asked.
'Reasonably so,' the computer said. 'Without greater morphological grounding, a cultural investigation in depth and series comparisons of vocal evolution, you get only a gross literal approximation, of course. We'll refine it while we go along. We're ready to put your sub-vocals through the lingua pack.'
'Let's talk,' Beirut said.
Out of the lingua pack on his chest came a series of sounds approximating 'Ai-ing-eeya.'
Computer translation of Autoga's reply was: 'That's a good idea. It's open sky.'
Beirut shook his head. It didn't sound right. Open sky?
'Sorry we damaged your vehicle,' Autoga said. 'We thought you were one of our youths playing with danger.'
Beirut swallowed. 'You thought my ship ... you people can make ships of this kind?'
'Oh, we made a few about ten million klurch ago,' Autoga said.
'It was at least fifteen million klurch,' said the wrinkle-faced native on Beirut 's left.
'Now, Choon, there you go exaggerating again,' Autoga said. He looked at Beirut . 'You'll have to forgive Chpon. He wants everything to be bigger, better and greater than it is.'
'What's a klurch?' Beirut asked.
The computer answered for his ears alone: 'Probable answer -the local year, about one and one-third standards.'
'I'm glad you decided to be peaceful,' Beirut said.
The lingua pack rendered this into a variety of sounds and the natives stared at Beirut 's chest.
'He is speaking from his chest,' Choon said.
Autoga looked up at the ship. 'There are more of you?'
'Don't answer that,' the computer said. 'Suggest the ship is a source of mystical powers.'
Beirut digested this, shook his head. Stupid computer! 'These are sharp cookies,' he said speaking aloud.
'What a delightful arrangement of noises,' Autoga said. 'Do it again.'
'You thought I was one of your youths,' Beirut said. 'Now who do you think I am?'
The lingua pack remained silent. His ear speaker said: 'Suggest that question not be asked.'
'Ask it ['Beirut said.
A gabble of sound came from the lingua pack.
'We debated that during the presence of s'Chareecha,' Autoga said. 'We hid in the purple darkness, you understand, because we have no wish to seed under the influence of s'Chareecha. A majority among us decided you are the personification of our design for a deity. I dissented. My thought is that you are an unknown, although I grant you temporarily the majority title.'
Beirut wet his lips with his tongue.
'He has five fingers,' Choon said.
'This was the argument you used to convince Tura and Lecky,' Autoga said. 'This argument still doesn't answer Spispi's objection .hat the five fingers could be the product of genetic manipulation or that plus amputation.'
'But the eyes,' Choon said. 'Who could conceive of such eyes? Not in our wildest imaginations ... '
'Perhaps you offend our visitor,' Autoga said. He glanced at Beirut , the stalked eyes bending outward quizzically.
'And the articulation of the legs and arms,' one of the other natives ventured.
'You're repeating old arguments, Tura,' Autoga said.

Beirut suddenly had a picture of himself as he must appear to these natives. Their eyes had obvious advantages over his. He had seen them look behind themselves without turning their heads. The double thumb arrangement looked useful. They must think one thumb an odd limitation. He began to chuckle.
'What is this noise?' Autoga asked.
'I'm laughing,' Beirut said.
'I will render that: 'I'm laughing at myself,'' the computer said. Sounds issued from the lingua pack.
'A person who can laugh at himself has taken a major step toward the highest civilization,' Autoga said. 'No offense intended.'
'The theories of Picheck that the concerted wish for a deity must produce same are here demonstrated,' Choon said. 'It's not quite the shape of entity I had envisioned, however, but we ... '
'Why don't we inquire?' Autoga asked and turned to Beirut . 'Are you a deity?'
'I'm a mortal human being, nothing more,' Beirut said.
The lingua pack remained silent.
'Translate that!' Beirut blared.