"The Hunters" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morrison William)

to act rapidly enough to harm us."
"You never can tell about such things. WiseЧpeopleЧsimply don't take unnecessary
chances."
"I'll grant that you're my superior in such wisdom."
"You needn't be sarcastic, Manto, I know I'm superior. I realize what a godsend
this planet isЧyou don't. It has the right gravity, a suitable atmosphere, the
proper chemical compositionЧeverything."
"Including a population that will be helpless before us."
"And you would take chances of losing all this."
"Don't be silly, Palit. What chances am I taking?"
"The chance of being discovered. Here we stumble on this place quite by
accident. No one at home knows about it, no one so much as suspects that it
exists. We must get back and reportЧand you do all sorts of silly things which
may reveal what we are, and lead these people to suspect their danger."
This time, Manto's giggle was no longer mere camouflage, but expressed to a
certain degree how he felt. "They cannot possibly suspect. We have been all over
the world, we have taken many forms and adapted ourselves to many customs, and
no one has suspected. And even if danger really threatened, it would be easy to
escape. I could take the form of the school teacher herself, of a policeman, of
any one in authority. However, at present there is not the slightest shadow of
danger. So, Palit, you had better stop being fearful."
Palit said firmly, "Be careful, and I won't be fearful. That's all there is to
it."
"I'll be careful. After all, I shouldn't want us to lose these children. They're
so exactly the kind we need. Look how inquiring they are, how unafraid, how
quick to adapt to any circumstancesЧ"
Miss Burton's voice said, "Good gracious, children, what language are you using?
Greek?"
They had been speaking too loud, they had been overheard. Palit and Manto stared
at each other, and giggled coyly. Then, after a second to think, Palit said,
"Onay, Issmay Urtonbay!"
"What?"
Frances shrilled triumphantly, "It isn't Greek, Miss Burton, it's
LatinЧPig-Latin. She said, 'No, Miss Burton.'"
"Good heavens, what is Pig-Latin?"
"It's a kind of way of talking where you talk kind of backwards. Like, you don't
say, Me, you say, Emay."
"You don't say, Yes, you say Esyay," added another little girl.
"You don't say, You, you say, Ouyay. You don't sayЧ"
"All right, all right, I get the idea."
"You don't sayЧ"
"That'll do," said Miss Burton firmly. "Now, let's get along to the lion house.
And please, children, do not make faces at the lions. How would you like to be
in a cage and have people make faces at you? Always remember to be considerate
to others."
"Even lions, Miss Burton?"
"Even lions."
"But Mr. George shot lots of lions. Was he considerate of them too?"
"There is no time for silly questions," said Miss Burton, with the same
firmness. "Come along."