"Eric Frank Russel - Next of Kin" - читать интересную книгу автора (Russell Eric Frank)

enough time to identify you as hostile before they lose trace of you We have every reason to believe that
you'll be able to slip through into their rear without trouble"



"I hope so," contributed Leeming seeing that a response was expected.



"The only danger point is here." Shifting his finger an inch, Farmer placed it on a bright star. "A
Lathian-held solar system containing at least four large space-navy stations. If those fleets happen to be
zooming around the bolt-hole they might intercept you more by accident than good judgment. So you'll
be accompanied that far by a strong escort."



"That's nice."



"If the escort should become involved in a fight you will not attempt to take part. it would be futile to do
so, anyway, because your vessel carries no offensive armament. You will take full advantage of the
diversion to race out of range and dive through the Combine's front. Is that understood?"



"Yes, sir."



"After you get through you must use your initiative. Bear in mind that we don't want to know how far
beyond there are worlds holding intelligent life-you would never reach the end of those even if you
continued to the crack of doom: We want to know only how far back there are such worlds in regular
communication with various members of the Combine. Whenever you come across an organised planet
playing ball with the Combine you will at once transmit all the details you can offer."



"I will."
 "Immediately you are satisfied that you have gained the measure of the enemy's depth you will return as
quickly as possible. You must get the ship back here if it can be done. If for any reason you cannot
return, the ship must be converted into scrap. No abandoning it in free space, no dumping it into an
ocean or anything like that. The ship must be destroyed. Markham has emphasised this, hasn't he?"



"Yes, sir."