"C. L. Moore - Greater Than Gods" - читать интересную книгу автора (Moore C. L)

future actions before we make them? We could mold the destiny of mankind! We
could do what the gods must do, Bill! We'd be greater than gods! We could look
into the Cosmic Mind-the very brain that planned us-and of our own will choose
among those plans!"
"Wake up, Ash," said Bill softly.
"You think I'm dreaming? It's not a new idea, really. The old philosopher,
Berkeley, had a glimpse of it when he taught his theories of subjective
idealism, that we're aware of the cosmos only through a greater awareness all
around us, an infinite mind- "Listen, Bill. If you vision these. . . these
blueprints of possible futures, you've got to picture countless generations,
finite as ourselves, existing simultaneously and completely in all the
circumstances of their entire lives-yet all of them still unborn, still even
uncertain of birth if the course of the present is diverted from their
particular path. To themselves, they must seem as real as we to each other.
"Somewhere on the Plane of Probability, Bill, there may be two diverging lines
of your descendants, unborn generations whose very existence hinges on your
choice here at the crossroads. Projections of yourself, really, their lives
and deaths trembling in the balance. Think well before you choose!"
Bill grinned. "Suppose you go back to the Slum and dope out a way for me to
look into the Cosmic Plan," he suggested.
Ashley shook his head.
"Wish I could. Boy, would you eat that word 'Slum' then! Telepathy House
wouldn't be the orphan child around the City any longer if I could really open
a window onto the Probability Plane. But I wouldn't bother with you and your
pint-sized problerps. I'd look ahead into the future of the City. It's the
heart of the world, now. Some day it may rule the world. And we're biased, you
know. We can't help being. With all the sciences housed here under one
citywide roof, wielding powers that kings never dreamed of- No, it may go to
our heads. We may overbalance into - . . into. . . well, I'd like to look
ahead and prevent it. And if this be treason-" He shrugged and got up. "Sure
you won't join me?"
"Go on-get out. I'm a busy man."
"So I see." Ashley twitched an eyebrow at the two crystal cubes. "Maybe it's
good you can't look ahead. The responsibility of choosing might be heavier
than you could bear. After all, we aren't gods and it must be dangerous to
usurp a god's prerogative. Well, see you later."


Bill leaned in the doorway watching the lounging figure down the hall toward
the landing platform where crystal cars waited to go flashing along the great
tubes which artery Science City. Beyond, at the platform's edge, the great
central plaza of the City dropped away in a breath-taking void a hundred
stories deep. He stood looking out
blind-eyed, wondering if Sallie or Marta would walk this hail in years to
come.
Life would be more truly companionship with Marta, perhaps. But did a family
need two scientists? A man wanted relaxation at home, and who could make life
gayer than pretty Sallie with her genius for entertainment, her bubbling
laughter? Yes, let it be Sallie. If there were indeed a Probability Plane
where other possible futures hung suspended, halfway between waking and