"Matthew Hughes - A Herd of Opportunity" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hughes Matt)

He continued as they walked, dodging other pedestrians and ignoring explicit offers of personal services
from men and women standing in doorways. "Malabar's innovations were generally not well received. A
few of the younger hydromants sided with him but their attempts to practice the new dispensation in the
Grand Tabernacle met resistance. When he would not compromise, the disaffection of the majority was
inflamed into an outright hostility that Malabar's followers returned redoubled. Harsh words were thrown
about, then--as is not unknown in such disputes--a few bricks and stones. He and his adherents thought
it prudent to withdraw. They pooled their wealth and bought passage to this barren spot. They dug a well
and created the Sequestrance, to follow their inclinations undisturbed."

Huffley looked about, saw no obvious eavesdroppers, then continued, "Then the Bololos arrived."

"The Bololos?" said Bandar. "Are they this rabble that infests the shantytown?"

"No, they are the cause that brought the rabble here. They are the autochthones of Gamza, a large but
harmless quasi-sapient species of lichen grazers. Yet they are 'fundamental to the nuisance,' or so
Malabar described them in his missive accepting my offer to resolve the problem."

"Master, I did not know that you were versed in conflict resolution."

Huffley looked slightly abashed. "In truth, it is not among my accomplishments."

"Perhaps you should fall back a step or two and explain how you came to make such an offer."

"The Bololos are telepaths," the academician said, "but otherwise devoid of interest. They have no
discernible culture, no arts or quaint customs, no wars or religious enthusiasms. In the literature, they are
described as an entirely happy and entirely boring population who pass their uneventful lives in calm,
unbroken communion with each other. They follow an annual round of wandering from one oasis of
desert vegetation to another, spending the days grazing except when they pause briefly to create more
Bololos. Even that process is said to be sedate."

Bandar was puzzled. "Yet people have come all this way to watch them graze?"

Huffley signaled a negative. "Since Malabar's hydromants settled close to one of the grazing areas, the
telepaths have exhibited unusual behavior. They strike poses or run about. One will suddenly embrace
another, receiving in return a welcome or a buffet to the midriff. It is all rather harmless, since they are
completely unequipped to do each other real damage. Though they are strong, in their way, there is
neither a fang nor a claw amongst the lot of them."

The phenomenon only occurred while the Bololos were within close range of the hydromants, Huffley
explained. Once they had eaten all the season's crop of vetch or whatever it was they craved, they would
move on. As soon as they put distance between themselves and the Sequestrance, the odd behavior
stopped.

Bandar had been conscious of a growing excitement as the preceptor spoke. "Master," he said, "you are
saying that a cross-species transference has occurred."

"I am not saying it quite yet," said Huffley. His front teeth chewed nervously at his lips for a moment
before he continued. "I am saying that there are definite indications. We are here to observe and draw
conclusions."