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

orderтАФwe wonтАЩt see those come again in our time, not out thereтАФтАЭ He motioned with one thin hand to
the sky over us. тАЬNo, not in our time, nor probably for generations to come. The lucky worlds with rich
natural resources will struggle along for a generation or two, trying hard to keep a grip on civilization.
Others will coast downhill fast. And there will be wolves tearing all aroundтАФтАЭ тАЬWolves?тАЭ
тАЬAn old term for aggressors. I believe it was an animal running in packs to pull down prey. The
ferocity of such hunts lingered on in our race memories. Yes, there will be wolf packs out now.тАЭ
тАЬFrom the Four Stars?тАЭ
тАЬNo,тАЭ he answered. тАЬThey are as badly mauled as we. But there are the remnants of broken fleets,
ships whose home worlds were blasted, with no ports in which they will be welcomed. These can easily
turn rogue, carrying on a way of life they have known for years, merely changing their name from
commando to pirate. The known rich worlds will be struck firstтАФand places where they can set up
basesтАФтАЭ I thought I knew then why he had returned. тАЬYouтАЩre bringing in a garrison so Beltane wonтАЩt be
openтАФтАЭ тАЬI wish I were, Vere, I wish I were!тАЭ And the sincerity in his husky voice impressed me. тАЬNo,
IтАЩve taken government property for my back pay, to the relief of the paymaster. I have title to Butte Hold
and whatever it may contain, that is all. As to why I came backтАФwell, I was born here, and I have a
desire that my bones rest in Beltane earth. Now, south hereтАФтАЭ The traces of the old road were nearly
hidden. There had been a washout or two, over which the quickly growing guerl vines had already laid a
mat. Now we were coming to the lava country, where there were signs of the old flows. The vegetation
rooting here was that fitted to wastelands. This was midsummer, and the flowering period was nearly
over. But here and there a late blossom still hung, a small flag of color. There were ripening yellow globes
on the vines, and twice spoohens fluttered away, at the approach of the hopper, from where they had
been feeding.
We circled about an escarpment and saw before us Butte Hold. It was a major feat of adaptation, the
rock of the mountain carved away and hollowed to make a sentry post. It had been fashioned right after
First Ship landing, when there was still doubt about the native fauna, meant to be a protection against
what lay in the saw-toothed wilds of the lava country. Though the need for such a fort was soon known
to be unnecessary, it had served as a headquarters for all the outland patrols as long as they kept watch
here.
I set down on the landing strip by the main entrance. But the doors were banked with drifting sand
and looked as if they had been welded so. Lugard got out, moving stiffly. He reached for his bag, but I
already had it, sliding out in his wake. By the looks of it, he was traveling light, and if there were no
supplies withinтАФwell, he might change his mind and want to return, if only temporarily, to guest in the
section.
He did not deny my company but went on ahead, once more in his hand that metal plate he had
shown me at the port. As he came to the sand-billowed doorway, he stood a long moment, looking at
the face of the stronghold, almost as if he expected one of those now shuttered windows to open and
himself to be hailed from within. Then he stooped a little, peering closely at the door. With one hand he
brushed its surface and with the other fitted the plate he carried over the locking mechanism.
I half expected to see him disappointed, my belief in the durability and dependability of machinery
having been systematically undermined by the breakdowns of years just past. But in this case I was
wrong. There was a moment or two of waiting, to be sure, but then the seemingly solid surface parted
into two leaves, rolling silently back on either side. At the same time, interior lights glowed, and we
looked down a straight hall with closed doors to right and left.
тАЬYou ought to be sure of supplies,тАЭ I ventured. He had turned to reach for the bag I still held. Now he
smiled.
тАЬVery well. Assure yourself, come inтАФтАЭ
I accepted that invitation, though I guessed he would rather be alone. Only I knew Beltane now as he
did not. I would have to leave in the hopper, and he would be, could be, disastrously on his
ownтАФmarooned here. He led the way straight down the hall to a door at the rear, raising his hand to
pass it in a swift, decisive gesture over the plate set into its surface. That triggered the opening, and we