"George R. R. Martin - Manna From Heaven" - читать интересную книгу автора (Martin George R R)

to multiply the loaves and fishes. Yet it occurred to me recently, while engrossed in a study of that book
which is the chief repository of the ancient myths from which that anecdote is drawn, that I was being
asked to perform the wrong miracle. Mere multiplication is an inadequate reply to an ongoing geometric
progression, and loaves and fishes, however plentiful and tasty, must in the final analysis be found
insufficient to your needs.тАЭ
тАЬWhat the hell are you talking about?тАЭ Tolly Mune demanded.
тАЬThis time,тАЭ Tuf said, тАЬI offer you a lasting answer.тАЭ
тАЬWhat?тАЭ
тАЬManna,тАЭ said Tuf.
тАЬManna,тАЭ said Tolly Mune.
тАЬA truly miraculous foodstuff,тАЭ said Haviland Tuf. тАЬThe details need not concern you. I will reveal all at
the proper time.тАЭ
The First Councillor and her cat looked at him suspiciously. тАЬThe proper time? And when will it be the
proper puling time?тАЭ
тАЬWhen my conditions have been met,тАЭ Tuf said.
тАЬWhat conditions?тАЭ
тАЬFirst,тАЭ said Tuf, тАЬas the prospect of living out the rest of my life in orbit about SтАЩuthlam is one I find
unappealing, it must be agreed that I am free to go after my labors here are completed.тАЭ
тАЬI canтАЩt agree to that,тАЭ Tolly Mune said, тАЬand if I did, the High Council would vote me out of office in a
puling second.тАЭ
тАЬSecondly,тАЭ Tuf continued, тАЬthis war must be terminated. I fear I will be unable to concentrate properly
on my work when there is every likelihood of a major space battle breaking out around me at any
moment. I am easily distracted by exploding starships, webs of laser fire, and the screams of dying men.
Moreover, I see little point in exerting great efforts to make the SтАЩuthlamese ecology balanced and
functional once more when the allied fleets threaten to deposit plasma bombs all over my handiwork, and
thereby undo my small achievements.тАЭ
тАЬIтАЩd end this war if I could,тАЭ Tolly Mune said. тАЬIt isnтАЩt that damned easy, Tuf. IтАЩm afraid what you ask is
impossible.тАЭ
тАЬIf not a permanent peace, then perhaps at least a small cessation in hostilities,тАЭ Tuf said. тАЬYou might
send an embassy to the allied forces and petition for a short armistice.тАЭ
тАЬThat might be possible,тАЭ Tolly Mune said tentatively. тАЬBut why?тАЭ Blackjack gave an uneasy meow.
тАЬYouтАЩre plotting something, damn it.тАЭ
тАЬYour salvation,тАЭ Tuf admitted. тАЬPardon me if I deign to interfere with your diligent joint efforts to
encourage mutation through radioactivity.тАЭ
тАЬWeтАЩre defending ourselves! We didnтАЩt want this war!тАЭ
тАЬExcellent. In that case, a short delay will not unduly inconvenience you.тАЭ
тАЬThe allies will never buy it. Neither will the High Council.тАЭ
тАЬRegrettable,тАЭ said Tuf. тАЬPerhaps we ought to give SтАЩuthlam some time to consider. In twelve years, the
surviving SтАЩuthlamese might have more flexible attitudes.тАЭ
Tolly Mune reached out and scratched Blackjack behind the ears. Blackjack stared at Tuf, and after a
minute uttered a small, strange, peeping sound. When the First Councillor stood abruptly, the huge
silver-gray cat leapt nimbly from her lap. тАЬYou win, Tuf,тАЭ she said. тАЬLead me to a comm set and IтАЩll set
the damned thing up. YouтАЩre prepared to wait forever and IтАЩm not. People are dying every moment we
delay.тАЭ Her voice was hard, but inside, for the first time in months, Tolly Mune felt hope mingled with her
unease. Maybe he could end the war and solve the crisis. Maybe there was really a chance. But she let
no hint of that creep into her tone. She pointed. тАЬBut donтАЩt think youтАЩre going to get away with anything
funny.тАЭ
тАЬAlas,тАЭ said Haviland Tuf, тАЬhumor has never been my forte.тАЭ
тАЬIтАЩve got Blackjack, remember. Dax is too freaked out and intimidated to do you any good, and Jack
will let me know the instant you start thinking about treachery.тАЭ