"Tuf Voyaging - 07 - Manna From Heaven" - читать интересную книгу автора (Martin George R R)

Tuf VoyagingЧ7: Manna from Heaven
George Martin


The SТuthlamese armada was sweeping the outskirts of the solar system, moving through the velvet darkness of space with all the stately silent grace of a tiger on the prowl, on an interception course with the Ark.
Haviland Tuf sat before his master console, scanning the banks of telescreens and computer monitors with small, careful turns of his head. The fleet angling to meet him appeared more formidable with every passing moment. His instruments reported some fourteen capital ships and swarms of smaller fighters. Nine bulbous silver-white globes, bristling with unfamiliar weaponry, comprised the wings of the formation. Four long black dreadnaughts served as outriders on the flanks of the wedge, their dark hulls crackling with energy. The flagship in the center was a colossal saucer-shaped fort with a diameter TufТs sensors measured as six kilometers from rim to rim. It was the largest spaceship that Haviland Tuf had seen since the day, more than ten years past, when he had first sighted the derelict Ark. Fighters swarmed around the saucer like angry stinging insects.
TufТs long, pale, hairless face was still and unreadable, but in his lap, Dax made a small sound of disquiet as Tuf pressed his fingertips together.
A flashing light indicated an incoming communication.
Haviland Tuf blinked, reached out with calm deliberation, and took the call.
He had expected a face to materialize on the telescreen in front of him. He was disappointed. The callerТs features were hidden by a faceplate of black plasteel, inset into the helmet of a mirror-finish warsuit. A stylized representation of the globe of SТuthlam ornamented the flanged crest upon his forehead. Behind the faceplate, wide-spectra sensors glowed red like two burning eyes. It reminded Haviland Tuf of an unpleasant man he had once known.
УIt was unnecessary to dress formally on my account,Ф Tuf said flatly. УMoreover, while the size of the honor guard you have sent to meet me tickles my vanity somewhat, a much smaller and less prepossessing squadron would have been more than sufficient. The present formation is so large and formidable as to give one pause. A man of a less trusting nature than myself might be tempted to misconstrue its purpose and suspect some intent to intimidate.Ф
УThis is Wald Ober, commander of the Planetary Defense Flotilla of SТuthlam, Wing Seven,Ф the grim visage on the telescreen announced in a deep, distorted voice.
УWing Seven,Ф Tuf repeated. УIndeed. This suggests the possibility of at least six other similarly fearsome squadrons. It would seem that SТuthlamese planetary defenses have been augmented somewhat since my last call.Ф
Wald Ober wasnТt interested. УSurrender at once, or be destroyed,Ф he said bluntly.
Tuf blinked. УI fear some grievous misunderstanding.Ф
УA state of war exists between the Cybernetic Republic of SТuthlam and the so-called alliance of Vandeen, Jazbo, HenryТs World, Skrymir, Roggandor, and the Azure Triune. You have entered a restricted zone. Surrender or be destroyed.Ф
УYou misapprehend me, sir,Ф Tuf said. УI am a neutral in this unfortunate confrontation, of which I was unaware until this moment. I am part of no faction, cabal, or alliance, and represent only myself, an ecological engineer with the most benign of motives. Please do not take alarm at the size of my ship. Surely in the small space of five standard years the esteemed spinnerets and cybertechs of the Port of SТuthlam cannot entirely have forgotten my previous visits to your most interesting world. I am Haviland-Ф
УWe know who you are, Tuf,Ф said Wald Ober. УWe recognized the Ark as soon as you shifted out of drive. The alliance doesnТt have any dreadnaughts thirty kilometers long, thank life. I have specific orders from the High Council to watch for your appearance.Ф
УIndeed,Ф said Haviland Tuf.
УWhy do you think the wing is closing on you?Ф Ober said.
УAs a gesture of affectionate welcome, I had hoped,Ф Tuf said. УAs a friendly escort bearing kudos, salutations, and gift baskets of plump, fresh, spiced mushrooms. I see that this assumption was unfounded.Ф
УThis is your third and final warning, Tuf. WeТll be in range in less than four standard minutes. Surrender now or be destroyed.Ф
УSir,Ф said Tuf, Уbefore you make a grievous error, please consult with your superiors. I am certain there has been a lamentable communications error.Ф
УYou have been tried in absentia and found guilty of being a criminal, a heretic, and an enemy of the people of SТuthlam.Ф
УI have been grossly misperceived,Ф Tuf protested.
УYou escaped the flotilla ten years ago, Tuf. DonТt think to do it again. SТuthlamese technology does not stand still. Our new weaponry will shred those obsolete defensive shields of yours, I promise you that. Our top historians have researched that ponderous EEC derelict of yours. I supervised the simulations myself. Your welcome is all prepared.Ф
УI have no wish to seem ungracious, but it was unnecessary to go to such lengths,Ф said Tuf. He glanced at the banks of telescreens that lined the consoles along both sides of the long, narrow room, and studied the phalanx of SТuthlamese warships rapidly closing upon the Ark. УIf this unprovoked hostility has its root in my outstanding debt to the Port of SТuthlam, rest assured that I am prepared to render payment in full immediately.Ф
УTwo minutes,Ф said Wald Ober.
УFurthermore, if SТuthlam is in need of additional ecological engineering, I find myself suddenly inclined to offer you my services at a much reduced price.Ф
УWeТve had enough of your solutions. One minute.Ф
УIt would seem I am left with but a single viable option,Ф said Haviland Tuf.
УThen you surrender?Ф the commander said suspiciously.
УI think not,Ф said Haviland Tuf. He reached out, brushed long fingers across a series of holographic keys, and raised the ArkТs ancient defensive screens.
Wald OberТs face was hidden, but he managed to get a sneer into his voice. УFourth generation imperial screens, triple redundancy, frequency overlapping, all shield phasing coordinated by your shipТs computers. Duralloy plate armor on your hull. I told you weТd done our research.Ф
УYour hunger for knowledge is to be commended,Ф Tuf said.
УThe next sarcasm you mouth may be your last, trader, so you had better take care to make it a good one. The point is, we know exactly what youТve got, and we know to the fourteenth decimal how much damage an EEC seedshipТs defenses can absorb. WeТre prepared to give you more than you can handle.Ф He turned his head. УPrepare to commence fire,Ф he snapped at unseen subordinates. When the dark helmeted face swiveled back toward Tuf, Ober added, УWe want the Ark and you canТt stop us from taking it. Thirty seconds.Ф
УI beg to differ,Ф said Tuf calmly.
УTheyТll fire at my command,Ф Ober said. УIf you insist, IТll count down the final seconds of your life. Twenty. Nineteen. Eighteenа.а.а.Ф
УSeldom have I heard such vigorous counting,Ф said Tuf. УPlease do not lose track on account of my distressing news.Ф
У.а.а.аFourteen. Thirteen. Twelve.Ф
Tuf folded his hands atop his stomach.
УEleven. Ten. Nine.Ф Ober looked uneasily to one side, then back at the screen.
УNine,Ф announced Tuf. УA fine number. It is customarily followed by eight, thence seven.Ф
УSix,Ф Ober said. He hesitated. УFive.Ф
Tuf waited silently.
УFour. Three.Ф He stopped. УWhat distressing news?Ф he roared at the screen.
УSir,Ф said Tuf, Уif you must shout, you will only oblige me to adjust the volume on my communications equipment.Ф He raised a finger. УThe distressing news is that the mere act of broaching the ArkТs defensive shields, as I have no doubt you can easily accomplish, will trigger a small thermonuclear device that I have previously secreted within the shipТs cell library, thereby instantaneously destroying the very cloning materials that make the Ark unique, invaluable, and widely coveted.Ф
There was a long silence. The glowing crimson sensors beneath the darkness of Wald OberТs faceplate seemed to smoulder as they stared into the screen at TufТs blank features. УYouТre bluffing,Ф the commander said at last.
УIndeed,Ф said Tuf. УYou have found me out. How foolish to think I might hoodwink a man of your perspicacity with such a blatant and juvenile deception. And now I fear you will fire upon me, rend my poor obsolete defenses, and demonstrate my lie for good and all. Permit me only a moment to make my farewells to my cats.Ф He folded his hands neatly atop his great paunch, and waited for the commander to reply. The SТuthlamese flotilla, his instruments avowed, was now well within range.
УIТll do just that, you damned abortion!Ф Wald Ober swore.