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

kilometers long and several of TufтАЩs other cats roamed the deck in question, Dax would scarcely lack for
space or for companionship, but must be baffled and distraught nonetheless. The psionic tomcat had
been TufтАЩs constant and inseparable companion for years, had even ridden in TufтАЩs ample pockets as a
kitten. Tolly Mune felt a little sad about it.
But not too sad. Dax had been TufтАЩs hole card, and sheтАЩd trumped him. She smiled and ran her fingers
through BlackjackтАЩs thick smoke-and-silver fur, eliciting another thunderous purr. тАЬThe more things
change the more they stay the same,тАЭ she said in answer to TufтАЩs comment.
тАЬThis is one of those venerable sayings that collapses upon close logical examination,тАЭ Tuf said, тАЬbeing
obviously self-contradictory on the face of it. If indeed things have changed upon SтАЩuthlam, they
obviously cannot have remained the same as well. To myself, coming as I have from a great distance, it is
the changes that seem most notable. To wit, this war, and your own elevation to First Councillor, a
considerable and unanticipated promotion.тАЭ
тАЬAnd a puling awful job,тАЭ Tolly Mune said with a grimace. тАЬIтАЩd go back to being Portmaster in a blink, if
I could.тАЭ
тАЬYour job satisfaction is not the subject under discussion,тАЭ Tuf said. He continued. тАЬIt must also be noted
that my welcome to SтАЩuthlam was distinctly less cordial than on the occasion of my previous visit, much
to my chagrin, and notwithstanding the fact that I have twice placed myself squarely between SтАЩuthlam
and mass famine, plague, cannibalism, pestilence, social collapse, and other unpleasant and inconvenient
events. Moreover, even the most venomously rude races frequently observe a certain rudimentary
etiquette toward those who are bringing them eleven million standards, which you recall is the amount of
principal remaining on my debt to the Port of SтАЩuthlam. Ergo, I had every reason to expect a welcome of
a somewhat different nature.тАЭ
тАЬYou were wrong,тАЭ she said.
тАЬIndeed,тАЭ Tuf said. тАЩтАЬNow that I have learned that you occupy the highest political office on SтАЩuthlam,
rather than a menial position upon a penal farm, I am frankly more mystified than ever as to why the
Planetary Defense Flotilla felt it necessary to greet me with fierce bombastic threats, dour warnings, and
exclamations of hostility.тАЭ
Tolly Mune scratched at BlackjackтАЩs ear. тАЬMy orders, Tuf.тАЭ
Tuf folded his hands atop his stomach. тАЬI await your explanation.тАЭ
тАЬThe more things changeтАФтАЭ she began.
тАЬHaving already been pummeled with this cliche, I believe I grasp the small irony involved in it by now, so
there is no need for you to repeat it over and over endlessly, First Councillor Mune. If you would
proceed to the essence of the matter I would be deeply appreciative. тАЬ
She sighed. тАЬYou know our situation.тАЭ
тАЬThe broad outlines, certainly,тАЭ Tuf admitted. тАЬSтАЩuthlam suffers from an excess of humanity, and a paucity
of food. Twice I have performed formidable feats of ecological engineering in order to enable the
SтАЩuthlamese to forestall the grim specter of famine. The details of your food crisis vary from year to year
but I trust that the essence of the situation remains as I have outlined it.тАЭ
тАЬThe latest projection is the worst yet.тАЭ
тАЬIndeed,тАЭ said Tuf. тАЬMy recollection is that SтАЩuthlam stood some one hundred nine standard years from
mass planetary famine and societal collapse, assuming that my recommendations and suggestions were
dutifully implemented.тАЭ
тАЬThey tried, damn it. They did try. The meatbeasts, the pods, the ororos, neptuneтАЩs shawlтАФeverythingтАЩs
in place. But the changeover was only partial. Too many powerful people were unwilling to give up the
luxury foodstuffs they preferred, so there are still large tracts of agri-land devoted to raising herds of food
animals, entire farms planted with neograss and omni-grain and nanowheatтАФthat sort of thing.
Meanwhile, the population curve has continued to rise, faster than ever, and the puling Church of Life
Evolving preaches the sanctity of life and the golden role of reproduction in humanityтАЩs evolution to
transcendence and godhood.тАЭ
тАЬWhat is the current estimate?тАЭ Tuf asked bluntly.