"Ross Richdale - Generation 7" - читать интересную книгу автора (Richdale Ross)

Crucnon but preferred to converse in English, the language of their ancestors. The alphabet the enemy
used was identical to theirs but the theory was that clickers had stolen it more than a century earlier to
replace a less functional hieroglyphics. Nobody, though, could give a reason why the structure of both
languages were similar, in fact Crucnon was closer in syntax to English than Russian, an Earth language
that had been phased out two generations earlier.

However, more practical problems were being discussed in the besieged village that day. Andrea
Jurjevics, the Proctor, dressed in her usual blue jeans and red woolen pullover, sat in the underground
council chambers and frowned.

What else have you found out, Ron? she asked.

The Generation 6 man wiped a somewhat dirty hand across his brow and grimaced. They have
mechanical vehicles on gigantic wheels that can travel up our highway from the river in a few hours. The
ones we saw can hold twenty or more clickers and have reinforced bars at the front. I believe they intend
to batter our walls down or perhaps surround New Seattle and starve us into surrender.

Have they learned to manufacture gunpowder in sufficient quantities to make explosive weapons, yet?

I don't believe so, Ron Cotterell replied. The mechanical vehicles have been seen pulling gigantic
catapults on skids. I earnestly believe they are preparing for one last attack on our walls. By attacking in
mid-winter they are hoping to catch us with our defenses down.

I see, muttered Commander Toby Evans, the tall gray-headed officer who was head of the village's
Defense and Police Force, colloquially called the DPF. This supports other information I have gathered.

Andrea glanced up but refrained from inquiring how Commander Evans gained his information. It was
believed he had contact with an underground clickers movement that supported coexistence on the planet
with humans. She, instead, glanced around at the members of the Inner Council and spoke in a hushed
voice.

It appears we have little time, Fellow Councilors, she said. We may need to prepare to evacuate New
Seattle and withdraw to the caves beneath the mountains.

But how long will we last there? grumbled Councilor Malone Davidson. They merely have to wait and
starve us out. Without access to our farms in spring we will be out of food before October.

So what do we do? snapped Andrea. This councilor was quick to criticize but never bothered to offer
constructive help. Become their slaves or be wiped out? We all know what happened whenever any of
our ancestors attempted to reason with the clickers?

Yes, supported Ron solemnly. Records show the few humans that ventured into their lands were never
heard of again. That was eighty years back.

That's my point, Malone added with her own voice raised in anger. The clickers are a much more
advanced society now. They may agree to speak to us.

Only the Blue Watch will, Toby replied. They're small in number, young and really just a student protest
group with no power.