"Tuf Voyaging - 06 - Call Him Moses" - читать интересную книгу автора (Martin George R R)

УHuman,Ф said Haviland Tuf, in his voice without emotion. His huge pale hand was stroking Dax. УI was born human, and lived as such for long years, Moses. Yet then I found the Ark, and I have ceased to be a man. The powers I may wield are vaster than those of many gods that humans have worshipped. There is not a man I meet but I could take his life. There is not a world I pause on that I could not waste utterly, or remake as I choose. I am the Lord God, or as much of one as either of you is ever likely to encounter.Ф
УIt is a great fortune for you that I am kind and benevolent and merciful, and too frequently bored. You are counters to me, nothing moreЧpieces and players in a game with which I have whiled away a few weeks. It seemed an interesting game, this plague business, and so it was for a time. Yet it quickly grew dull. Even after two plagues, it was clear that I had no meaningful opposition, that you, Moses, were incapable of anything that might surprise me. My objectives were accomplishedЧI had taken back the people of the City of Hope, and the rest would be meaningless ritual. I have elected instead to end it.
УGo, Moses, and plague no more. I am through with you.
УAnd you, Jaime Kreen, see that your Charitans take no further vengeance. You shall have victories enough. In a generation, his culture and his religion and his way of life will all be dead.
УRemember who I am, and remember that Dax can look into your thoughts. If the Ark should pass this way again, and find that you have disobeyed me, it will be as I have shown you. The plagues will sweep your little world until nothing lives upon it.Ф

Jaime Kreen shuttled Moses back to his people in the Griffin, then-on TufТs instructions-collected forty thousand standards from Rej Laithor and took it back up to the Ark. Haviland Tuf met him on the shuttle deck, with Dax in his arms, and took his payment with only a stately blink.
Jaime Kreen was thoughtful. УYou are bluffing, Tuf,Ф he said. УYouТre no god. Those were only simulations you showed us. You could never have actually done all that. But you can program a computer to show anything.Ф
УIndeed,Ф said Haviland Tuf.
УIndeed,Ф said Jaime Kreen, warming now. УYou frightened Moses out of his head, but you didnТt deceive me for a minute with your picture show. The hail gave you away. Bacteria, disease, pestsЧall that is within the sphere of ecological warfare. Maybe even that darkness creature, although I think you made that up. But hail is a meteorological phenomenon, it has nothing to do with biology or ecology. You slipped up, Tuf. But it was a nice try, and it should keep Moses humble.Ф
УHumble,Ф agreed Haviland Tuf. УI should have hesitated and planned more thoroughly before attempting to mislead a man of your perception and insight, no doubt. At every turn you frustrate my small schemes.Ф
Jaime Kreen chuckled. УI have a hundred standards due me,Ф he said, Уfor bringing Moses up and back.Ф
УSir,Ф said Haviland Tuf, УI would never forget such a debt. It is not necessary to chivvy me.Ф He opened the box that Kreen had brought up from Charity, and paid out one hundred standards. УYou will find a convenient personal airlock in section nine, just beyond the doors marked Climate Control.Ф
Jaime Kreen frowned. УAirlock? What do you mean?Ф
УSir,Ф said Haviland Tuf, УI would think it obvious. I mean airlock, a device by which you may depart the Ark without my valuable atmosphere departing with you. Since you have no spacecraft, it would be foolish to use the large airlock here. A smaller personal lock, as I said, may be found in section nine.Ф
Kreen looked aghast. УAre you going to jettison me?Ф
УNot the best choice of words,Ф said Haviland Tuf. УThey sound so harsh. Yet I can hardly keep you aboard the Ark, and were you to depart in one of my shuttles, there would be no one to bring it back to me. I can hardly afford to sacrifice a valuable piece of equipment simply for your personal convenience.Ф
Kreen frowned. УThe solution to your dilemma is simple. We will both board the Griffin. You will take me down to Port Faith. Then you will return to your ship.Ф
Haviland Tuf stroked Dax. УInteresting,Ф he said. УYet I do believe it might work. You must understand, of course, that such a trip would constitute a distinct annoyance for me. Surely I should receive something for my troubles.Ф
Jaime Kreen stared into the still white face of Haviland Tuf for a minute, then sighed, and handed back the hundred standards.
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