"Mike Resnick - Birthright" - читать интересную книгу автора (Resnick Mike)

move the whole government lock, stock, and barrel over to Deluros VIII: twenty times as big as Earth,
same climate, and a hell of a lot closer to the center of things. It's inevitable, but they do love to drag their
heels. Makes it damned hard for me to conquer their galaxy for them. I'll do it, of course, but they could
make my job a lot easier.тАЭ
Nelson blinked his eyes several times. This was obviously no dream, and the Director wasn't like any
madman he had ever seen before, but everything he said was terribly out of focus. Mapmakers just didn't
offer Pioneers half a billion dollars to commit treason, and then complain that the government was
hindering their conquest of the stars.

тАЬYou look dubious,тАЭ said Landon dryly.

тАЬStunned is more the word for it,тАЭ said Nelson. тАЬIf what you say is true, it's a pretty big revelation. If not,
then they've got a totally unbalanced egomaniac in charge of a pretty important governmental department.
Either way, it's not something I was prepared for.тАЭ

Landon laughed for the first time. тАЬThat's what I like about you Pioneers. Who else would tell the
Director of Cartography that he's off his rocker? Tell you what. Why not come and take a little tour with
me? It might help you make up your mind. And always remember: Mad or not, government checks don't
bounce.тАЭ

тАЬThat's what's kept me here so far,тАЭ said Nelson frankly.

тАЬGood for you. I don't trust a man who doesn't watch out for his own interests. Come along.тАЭ With that,
he rose and walked out the door into his outer office, followed by Nelson. As he left the larger enclosure,
a quartet of security officers joined him. He walked over to a small battery-powered cart, motioned
Nelson to sit beside him, waited for the officers to grab handholds, and began driving rapidly down a
long corridor. Nelson tried to follow the various changes of direction Landon took, but soon became
confused and settled back with a sigh. At no time did the cart move farther than fifty yards from one of
the huge outside walls, and it seemed to Nelson that they were continuously ascending, although at a very
slight angle.

At last the cart screeched to a halt, and Landon and Nelson got out. The security officers dismounted,
but made no effort to follow them. The Director led the Pioneer to a small doorway.

тАЬNot prone to vertigo, are you?тАЭ he asked.

тАЬNo, sir,тАЭ said Nelson.

тАЬGood. When we walk through this door we'll be on a balcony. It's quite long and of more than ample
width, but every now and then somebody starts getting dizzy on me; sometimes it's vertigo, sometimes it's
just the map.тАЭ

Landon walked through the door, and Nelson fell into step behind him.

And stopped.

And stared.

And almost fell off the balcony.