"Murray Leinster - First Contact (2)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Leinster Murray)

tropics of Earth.
The alien ship had made one sign of less than lethal intention. As it drew near the
Lianvabon, it decelerated. The Lianvabon itself had advanced for a meeting and then come to a dead
stop. Its movement had been a recognition of the nearness of the other ship. Its pausing was both
a friendly sign and a precaution against attack. Relatively still, it could swivel on its own axis
to present the least target to a slashing assault, and it would have a longer firing-time than if
the two ships flashed past each other at their combined speeds.
The moment of actual approach, however, was tenseness itself. The LlanvabonтАЩs needle-
pointed bow aimed unwaveringly at the alien bulk. A relay to the captainтАЩs room put a key under
his hand which would fire the blasters with maximum power. Tommy Dort watched, his brow wrinkled.
The aliens must be of a high degree of civilization if they had spaceships, and civilization does
not develop without the development of foresight. These aliens must recognize all the implications
of this first contact of two civilized races as fully as did the humans on the Lianvabon.
The possibility of an enormous spurt in the development of both, by peaceful contact and
exchange of their separate technologies, would probably appeal to them as to man. But when
dissimilar human cultures are in contact, one must usually be subordinate or there is war. But
subordination between races arising on separate planets could not be peacefully arranged. Men, at
least, would never consent to subordination, nor was it likely that any highly developed race
would agree. The benefits to be derived from commerce could never make up for a condition of
inferiority. Some racesтАФmen, perhapsтАФwould prefer commerce to conquest. PerhapsтАФperhaps!тАФthese
aliens would also. But some types even of human beings would have craved for war. If the alien
ship now approaching the Lianvabon returned to its home base with news of humanityтАЩs existence and
of ships like the Lianvabon, it would give its race the choice of trade or battle. They might want
trade, or they might want war. But it takes two to make trade, and only one to make war. They
could not be sure of menтАЩs peacefulness, or could men be sure of theirs. The only safety for
either civilization would lie in the destruction of one or both of the two ships here nad now.
But even victory would not be really enough. Men would need to know where this alien race
was to be found, for avoidance if not for battle. They would need to know its weapons, and its
resources, and if it could be a menace and how it could be eliminated in case of need. The aliens
would feel the same necessities concerning humanity.
So the skipper of the Lianvabon did not press the key which might possibly have blasted
the other ship tO nothingness. He dared not. But he dared not not fire either. Sweat came out on
his face.
A speaker muttered. Someone from the range room.
тАЬThe other shipтАЩs stopped, sir. Quite stationary. Blasters are centered on it, sir.тАЭ
It was an urging to fire. But the skipper shook his head to himself. The alien ship was no
more than twenty miles away. It was dead-black. Every bit of its exterior was an abysmal,
nonreflecting sable. No details could be seen except by minor variations in its outline against
the misty nebula.
тАЬItтАЩs stopped dead, sir,тАЭ said another voice. тАЬTheyтАЩve sent a modulated short wave at us,
sir. Frequency modulated. Apparently a signal. Not enough power to do any harm.тАЭ
The skipper said though tight-locked teeth:
тАЬTheyтАЩre doipg something now. ThereтАЩs movement on the outside of their hull. Watch what
comes out. Put the auxiliary blasters on it.тАЭ
Something small and round, came smoothly out of the oval outline of the black ship. The
bulbous hulk moved.
тАЬMoving away, sir,тАЭ said the speaker. тАЬThe object they let out is stationary in the place
theyтАЩve left.тАЭ
Another voice cut in:
тАЬMore frequency modulated stuff, sir. Unintelligible.тАЭ