"John Norman - Gor 01- Tarnsman of Gor" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norman John)

"But surely," I protested, "its existence could be discovered. One can't hide a planet the size of
the Earth in our own solar system! It's impossible!"

"You underestimate the Priest-Kings and their science," said my father, smiling. "Any power that
is capable of moving a planet-and I believe the Priest-Kings possess this power-is capable of
effecting adjustments in the
motion of the planet, such adjustments as might allow it to use the sun indefinitely as a
concealing shield."

"The orbits of the other planets would be affected," I pointed out.

"Gravitational perturbations," said my father, "can be neutralized." His eyes shone. "It is my
belief," he said, "that the Priest-Kings can control the forces of gravity, at least in localized
areas, and, indeed, that they do so. In all probability their control over the motion of the
planet is somehow connected with this capacity. Consider certain consequences of this power.
Physical evidence, such as light or radio waves, which might reveal the presence of the planet,
can be prevented from doing so. The Priest-Kings might gravitationally warp the space in their
vicinity, causing light or radio waves to be diffused, curved, or deflected in such a way as not
to expose their world."

I must have appeared unconvinced.

"Exploratory satellites can be similarly dealt with," added my father. He paused. "Of course, - I
only propose hypotheses, for what the Priest-Kings do and how it is done is known only to them."

I drained the last sip of the heady wine in the metal goblet.

"Actually," said my father, "there is evidence of the existence of the Counter-Earth."

I looked at him.

"Certain natural signals in the radio band of the spectrum," said my father.

My astonishment must have been obvious.

"Yes," he said, "but since the hypothesis of another world is regarded as so incredible, this
evidence has been interpreted to accord with other theories; sometimes even imperfections in
instrumentation have been supposed rather than admit the presence of another world in our solar
system."

"But why would this evidence not be understood?" I asked.

"Surely you know," he laughed, "one must distinguish between the data to be interpreted and the
interpretation of the data, and one chooses, normally, the interpretation that preserves as much
as possible of the old world view, and, in the thinking of the Earth, there is no place for Gor,
its true sister planet, the Counter-Earth."

My father had finished speaking. He rose and gripped me by the shoulders, held me for a moment and
smiled. Then silently the door in the wall slid aside, and he strode from the room. He had not
spoken to me of my role or destiny, whatever it was to be. He did not wish to discuss the reason