"Andre Norton - Jern Murdock 02 - Uncharted Stars" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

it.It was not clear but I persevered, setting up the long narrow
outline--thenose as I had last seen it, jutting out over a straggle of
lip-grown hair.Faskel Jern had been my father's true son, while I was but one
by adoption.Yet it had always seemed that I was Hywel Jern's son in spirit
and Faskelthe stranger. I put the purplish scar on Faskel's forehead
near hishairline, added the petulant twist of lips which had been
his usualexpression when facing me in later years, and held to the whole
mentalpicture with determination."Look!"Obediently I opened my eyes to the
mirror. And for several startled secondsI looked at someone. He was
certainly not me--nor was he Faskel as Iremembered him, but an odd,
almost distorted combination of us both. It wasa sight I did not in the least
relish. My head was still gripped in the visemaintained by Eet's hold and I
could not turn away. But as I watched, themisty Faskel faded and I was myself
again."You see--it can be done," was Eet's comment as he released me and
floweddown my body to the floor."You did it."Only in part. There has been,
with my help, a breakthrough. Your species useonly a small fraction of your
brain. You are content to do so. This wastageshould shame you forever.
Practice will aid you. And with a new face youwill not have to fear going
where you can find a pilot.""If we ever can." I push-buttoned a chair out of
the wall and sat down witha sigh. My worries were a heavy burden. "We
shall have to take ablack-listed man if we get any.""Ssssss--" No sound,
only an impression of one in my mind. Eet had flashedto the door of the
room, was crouched against it, his whole attitude one ofstrained listening, as
if all his body, not just his ear, served him forthat purpose. I could
hear nothing, of course. These rooms were completelyscreened and
soundproofed. And I could use a hall-and-wall detect if Iwished to prove
it so. Spaceport caravansaries were the few places where onecould be truly
certain of not being overlooked, overheard, or otherwisechecked upon. But
their guards were not proofed against such talents asEet's, and I guessed
from his attitude not only that he was suspicious ofwhat might be arriving
outside but that it was to be feared. Then he turnedand I caught his thought.
I moved to snap over a small luggage compartmentand he folded himself into
hiding there in an instant. But his thoughts werenot hidden."Patrol snoop on
his way--coming here," he warned, and it was alert enoughto prepare
me.Chapter TwoAs yet, the visitor's light had not flashed above the door. I
moved, perhapsnot with Eet's speed, but fast enough, to snap the room's
furnishings outand in place so that the compartment would look normal even to
the searchingstudy of a trained Patrolman. The Patrol, jealous of its
authority afterlong centuries of supremacy as the greatest
law-enforcement body in thegalaxy, had neither forgotten nor forgiven the
fact that Eet and I had beenable to prove them wrong in their too-quick
declaration of my outlawry (Ihad indeed been framed by the Guild). That we had
dared, actually dared, tostrike a bargain and keep them to it, galled them
bitterly. We had rescuedtheir man, saved his skin and his ship for him in
the very teeth of theThieves' Guild. But he had fought bitterly against the
idea that we did havethe power to bargain and that he had to yield on what
were practically ourterms. Even now the method of that bargaining made me
queasy, for Eet hadjoined us mind to mind with ruthless dispatch. And such an
invasion, mutualas it was, left a kind of unhealed wound. I have heard it
stated that theuniverse is understood by each species according to the sensory