"George R. R. Martin - Guardians" - читать интересную книгу автора (Martin George R R)

again, atmosphere came swirling back in to the deck, and Haviland Tuf arrived soon after.
Kefira Qay emerged from her ship with her lips set sternly beneath her big, crooked nose, but no amount
of control could quite conceal the awe in her eyes. Two armed men in golden coveralls trimmed with
green followed her.
Haviland Tuf drove up to them in an open three-wheeled cart. тАЬI am afraid that my dinner invitation was
only for one, Guardian Qay,тАЭ he said wheh he saw her escort. тАЬI regret any misunderstanding, yet I must
insist.тАЭ
тАЬVery well,тАЭ she said. She turned to her guard. тАЬWait with the others. You have your orders.тАЭ When she
got in next to Tuf she told him, тАЬThe Sunrazor will tear your ship apart if I am not returned safely within
two standard hours.тАЭ
Haviland Tuf blinked at her. тАЬDreadful,тАЭ he said. тАЬEverywhere my warmth and hospitality is met with
mistrust and violence.тАЭ He set the vehicle into motion.
They drove in silence through a maze of interconnected rooms and corridors, and finally entered a huge
shadowy shaft that seemed to extend the full length of the ship in both directions. Transparent vats of a
hundred different sizes covered walls and ceiling as far as the eye could see, most empty and dusty, a few
filled with colored liquids in which half-seen shapes stirred feebly. There was no sound but a wet, viscous
dripping somewhere off behind them. Kefira Qay studied everything and said nothing. They went at least
three kilometers down the great shaft, until Tuf veered off into a blank wall that dilated before them.
Shortly thereafter they parked and dismounted.
A sumptuous meal had been laid out in the small, spartan dining chamber to which Tuf escorted the
Guardian Kefira Qay. They began with iced soup, sweet and piquant and black as coal, followed by
neograss salads with a gingery topping. The main course was a breaded mushroom top full as large as the
plate on which it was served, surrounded by a dozen different sorts of vegetables in individual sauces.
The Guardian ate with great relish.
тАЬIt would appear you find my humble fare to your taste,тАЭ observed Haviland Tuf.
тАЬI havenтАЩt had a good meal in longer than I care to admit,тАЭ replied Kefira Qay. тАЬOn Namor, we have
always depended on the sea for our sustenance. Normally it is bountiful, but since our troubles began...тАЭ
She lifted a forkful of dark, misshapen vegetables in a yellow-brown sauce. тАЬWhat am I eating? ItтАЩs
delightful.тАЭ
тАЬRhiannese sinnersтАЩ root, in a mustard sauce,тАЭ Haviland Tuf said.
Qay swallowed and set down her fork. тАЬBut Rhiannon is so far, how do you...тАЭ She stopped.
тАЬOf course,тАЭ Tuf said, steepling his fingers beneath his chin as he watched her face. тАЬAll this provender
derives from the Ark, though originally it might be traced back to a dozen different worlds. Would you
like more spiced milk?тАЭ
тАЬNo,тАЭ she muttered. She gazed at the empty plates. тАЬYou werenтАЩt lying, then. You are what you claim,
and this is a seedship of the...what did you call them?тАЭ
тАЬThe Ecological Engineering Corps, of the long-defunct Federal Empire. Their ships were few in number,
and all but one destroyed by the vicissitudes of war. The Ark alone survived, derelict for a millennium.
The details need not concern you. Suffice it to say that I found it, and made it functional.тАЭ
тАЬYou found it?тАЭ
тАЬI believe I just said as much, in those very same words. Kindly pay attention. I am not partial to
repeating myself. Before finding the Ark, I made a humble living from trade. My former ship is still on the
landing deck. Perhaps you chanced to see it.тАЭ
тАЬThen youтАЩre really just a trader.тАЭ
тАЬPlease!тАЭ said Tuf with indignation. тАЬI am an ecological engineer. The Ark can remake whole planets,
Guardian. True, I am but one man, alone, when once this ship was crewed by two hundred, and I do
lack the extensive formal training such as was given centuries ago to those who wore the golden theta, the
sigil of the Ecological Engineers. Yet, in my own small way, I contrive to muddle through. If Namor
would care to avail itself of my services, I have no doubt that I can help you.тАЭ
тАЬWhy?тАЭ the slender Guardian asked warily. тАЬWhy are you so anxious to help us?тАЭ