"Damon Knight - Short Stories Vol 1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Knight Damon)

тАЬWhich of these is longer than the other?тАЭ

тАЬThe red,тАЭ said the Kanama.

Both needles leaped wildly, and so did the line on the unrolling tape.

тАЬI shall repeat the question,тАЭ said the doctor. тАЬWhich of these is longer than the other?тАЭ

The black,тАЭ said the creature.

This time the instruments continued in their normal rhythm.
тАЬHow did you come to this planet?тАЭ asked the doctor.

тАЬWalked,тАЭ replied the Kanama.

Again the instruments responded, and there was a subdued ripple of laughter in the chamber.

тАЬOnce more,тАЭ said the doctor. тАЬHow did you come to this planet?тАЭ

тАЬIn a spaceship,тАЭ said the Kanama, and the instruments did not jump.

The doctor again faced the delegates. тАЬMany such experiments were made,тАЭ he said, тАЬand my colleagues
and myself are satisfied that the mechanisms are effective. NowтАФтАЭ he turned to the KanamaтАФ"I shall
ask our distinguished guest to reply to the question put at the last session by the delegate of the
U.S.S.R.тАФnamely, what is the motive of the Kanamit people in offering these great gifts to the people of
Earth?тАЭ

The Kanama rose. Speaking this time in English, he said, тАЬOn my planet there is a saying, тАШThere are
more riddles in a stone than in a philosopher's head.тАЩ The motives of intelligent beings, though they may at
times appear obscure, are simple things compared to the complex workings of the natural universe.
Therefore I hope that the people of Earth will understand, and believe, when I tell you that our mission
upon your planet is simply thisтАФto bring to you the peace and plenty which we ourselves enjoy, and
which we have in the past brought to other races throughout the galaxy. When your world has no more
hunger, no more war, no more needless suffering, that will be our reward.тАЭ

And the needles had not jumped once.

The delegate from the Ukraine jumped to his feet, asking to be recognized, but the time was up and the
Secretary-General closed the session.

I met Grigori as we were leaving the chamber. His face was red with excitement. тАЬWho promoted that
circus?тАЭ he demanded.

тАЬThe tests looked genuine to me,тАЭ I told him.

тАЬA circus!тАЭ he said vehemently. тАЬA second-rate farce! If they were genuine, Peter, why was debate
stifled?тАЭ

тАЬThere'll be time for debate tomorrow, surely.тАЭ