"Keith Laumer - The Monitors" - читать интересную книгу автора (Laumer Keith)

the door, pushed out onto the sidewalk. Pedestrians had halted, stood with their mouths hanging
open, craning to see where the voice was coming from. A small bald-headed man ran from a TV
repair shop across the street, holding his hands over his ears.
"You don't suppose," the Prof said thoughtfully from behind Blondel, "that every set in his shop
... ?"
A police car swung around the corner, the siren moaning down the scale as it pulled to the curb
in front of the bar. Two cops hopped out and heavyfooted it across to the TV store.
"Stand by for the announcement - - NOW!" The combined volume of every set in the
neighborhood blasted out loud enough to rattle windows. It was quiet then for a few seconds
except for the sounds of police voices raised in inquiry.
"Somehow, Mr. Blondel," Prof said, "I have a feeling that this is more than a mere advertising
stunt ... "
"Citizens of Earth," a new voice racketed across the street. "I am the Tersh Jetterax. It is my
pleasure to announce to you that a new government has now taken over the conduct of all public
affairs. Effective at once, all former police, military, judiciary, and legislative functions are
suspended. Any individual previously serving in any official capacity whatever may consider
himself at liberty. Monitors who will assume the administration of the new system will arrive
among you momentarily. They will be distinguished by uniforms of a distinctive yellow color, and
will take full responsibility for the maintenance of law and order. Essential personnel such as
medical doctors, bus drivers, maintenance specialists, et cetera, are requested to carry on
temporarily, until relieved. All other citizens are to go at once to their places of residence and
await further instructions."
As the speech ended, there was a blood- curdling yell. The Prof grabbed Blondel's arm and
pointed. Something huge was settling down over the building tops: a gold-painted blimp, half the
size of the Hindenburg, unadorned except for a curlicue of black lines near one end. It dropped in
fast, maneuvered past the jungle of TV antennae on top of Levi's, lowered itself down between the
buildings until it was hovering ten feet above the street as big as a beached ocean liner. People
were scattering, running away from it; a high, wailing sound was coming up from the crowd.
Heads were popping from windows all up and down the street.
"My God, they're everywhere!" Prof pointed. There were other blimps in the distance drifting
down as light as dandelion feathers. One sailed in from a side street, came to rest half a dozen
blocks above where Blondel watched.
"What ... what's it all about?" Harry's bull- tones had lost their assurance.
"There is no cause for alarm," the original voice racketed over the confusion. "Please follow all
instructions quickly and without disorder ... "
The blimp, filling the street before the bar, hung just above the tops of a pack of stalled
automobiles whose drivers had abandoned them and run when the shadow settled over them.
Now panels flopped open near the bottom of the immense airship. Men in gleaming gold uniforms
emerged at a jog trot. They were tall fellows -- at six- one -- with physiques like lifeguards. They
spread out, started directing traffic, shooing pedestrians along the sidewalk, helping old ladies
across the street.
The four policemen eme rged from the TV repair shop, gaped at the scene, then whipped out
whistles and blew piercing blasts. One clamped a large hand on a passing yellow-clad shoulder.
The Monitor waved a hand. The cop stiffened; then he took off his cap, tossed it in the gutter,
dropped his badge beside it, then wandered away into the crowd. The other three cops fared no
better.
"It's the Rooshians," Harry groaned. "The bums got the jump on us!"
"A power seizure - - an invasion - - carried out in broad daylight!" the Prof gasped.
One of the Monitors was standing ten feet from them, a Captain Video in gilt longjohns, making
a nice little bow to a well- shaped redhead.