"Andre Norton - Dark Piper" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

refinements in killing. I had heard enough to know that there had been a deliberate dragging of feet in
sections that had been set to war problems. And there had been angry outbursts five years back, threats
passed between the last commander and such men as Dr. Corson. Then the commander had been
ordered off-world, and Beltane settled down to a peaceful existence.
The sentiment now on Beltane was pacifistтАФso much so that I wondered whether Lugard would find
an accepted place among these men bent so strongly on keeping matters as they were and had been. He
had been born on BeltaneтАФthat was true. But, like my father, he was of a Service family, and he had
never married into one of the settlement clans. He spoke of Butte Hold as his. Was that literally true? Or
did it mean that he was sent here to make ready for another garrison? That would not be welcome.
Our trail was so badly overgrown that I reluctantly took to the air, skimming not far above the top of
the brush. If Lugard was the forerunner of a garrison, I hoped they would number among them some
techneer-mechanics with training in the repair of vehicles. Already our machines had become so
unpredictable that some of the settlements talked of turning to beasts of burden. тАЬTake her farther up!тАЭ
ordered Lugard.
I shook my head. тАЬNo. If she parts at this height, we have a chance of getting out in one piece. I
wonтАЩt chance more.тАЭ
He glanced first at me and then at the hopper, as if he really saw it for the first time. His eyes
narrowed.
тАЬThis is a wreckтАФтАЭ
 тАЬIt is about the best you can find nowadays,тАЭ I replied promptly. тАЬMachines donтАЩt repair themselves.
The techneer-robos are all on duty at the labs. We have had no off-world supplies since Commander
Tasmond lifted with the last of the garrison. Most of these hoppers are just pasted together, with hope
the main ingredient of that paste.тАЭ
Again I met his searching stare. тАЬThat bad, is it?тАЭ he asked quietly. тАЬWell, it depends upon what you
term bad. The Committee has about decided it is a good thing on the whole. They like it that off-world
authority has stopped giving orders. The Free Trade party is looking forward to independence and is
trying to beam in a trader. Meanwhile, repairs go first for lab needs; the rest of it slides. But no one, at
least no one with a voice in Committee affairs, wants off-world control back.тАЭ
тАЬWho is in charge?тАЭ
тАЬThe CommitteeтАФsection headsтАФCorson, Ahren, Alsay, VlastsтАФтАЭ тАЬCorson, Ahren, yes. Who is
Alsay?тАЭ
тАЬHeтАЩs at Yetholme.тАЭ
тАЬAnd Watsill?тАЭ
тАЬDrafted off-world. So was PrazтАФand Borntol. Most of the younger men went. And
some of the big brainsтАФтАЭ
тАЬCorfu?тАЭ
тАЬHeтАФwell, he killed himself.тАЭ
тАЬWhat?тАЭ He was clearly startled. тАЬI had a messageтАФтАЭ Then he shook his head. тАЬIt was a long time
reaching meтАФout there. Why?тАЭ
тАЬThe official verdict was minor fatigue.тАЭ
тАЬAnd behind that verdict?тАЭ
тАЬRumor has it that he discovered something deadly. They wanted him to develop it. He wouldnтАЩt.
They pressured him, and he was afraid he might give in. So he made sure he would not. The Committee
like that rumor. They have made it their talking point against off-world control. They say that they will
never put weapons into anyoneтАЩs hands again.тАЭ
тАЬThey wonтАЩt have the chanceтАФinto former hands, that is,тАЭ Lugard replied dryly. тАЬAnd they had
better give up their dreams of trade, too. The breakup is here and now, boy. Each world will have to
make the most of its own resources and be glad if someone else doesnтАЩt try to take them overтАФтАЭ тАЬBut
the war is over!тАЭ
Lugard shook his head. тАЬThe formal war, yes. But it tore the Confederation to bits. Law and