"Eric Frank Russell - Late Night Final" - читать интересную книгу автора (Russell Eric Frank)

"Time is important to us, and the quicker these prisoners learn our language the
better it will be. Here, their minds are occupied by their predicament. They think too
much of their friends and families. In their own homes it would be different, and they
could learn at great speed."
"A weak pretext," scoffed Cruin.
"That is not all. By nature they are naive and friendly. I feel that we have little to fear
from them. Had they been hostile they would have attacked by now."
"Not necessarily. It is wise to be cautious. The manual of defense emphasizes that
fact repeatedly. These creatures may wish first to gain the measure of us before they
try to deal with us."
Fane was prompt to snatch the opportunity. "Your point, sir, is also my final one.
Here, they are six pairs of eyes and six pairs of ears in the middle of us, and their
absence is likely to give cause for alarm in their home town. Were they there,
complacency would replace that alarmтАФand we would be the eyes and ears!"
"Well put," commented Jusik, momentarily forgetting himself.
"Be silent!" Cruin glared at him. "I do not recall any ruling in the manual pertaining to
such a suggestion as this. Let me check up." Grabbing his books, he sought through
them. He took a long time about it, gave up, and said: "The only pertinent rule
appears to be that in circumstances not specified in the manual the decision is wholly
mine, to be made in light of said circumstances providing that they do not conflict
with the rulings of any other manual which may be applicable to the situation, and
providing that my decision does not effectively countermand that or those of any
senior ranking officer whose authority extends to the same area." He took a deep
breath.
"Yes, sir," said Fane.
"Quite, sir," said Parth.
Cruin frowned heavily. "How far away are these prisoners' homes?"
"One hour's walk." Fane made a persuasive gesture. "If anything did happen to
usтАФwhich I consider extremely un-likelyтАФone scout could wipe out their little town
before they'd time to realize what had happened. One scout, one bomb, one
minute!" Dexterously, he added, "At your order, sir."
Cruin preened himself visibly. "I see no reason why we should not take advantage of
their stupidity." His eyes asked Jusik what he thought, but that person failed to
notice. "Since you two tutors have brought this plan to me, I hereby approve it, and
I appoint you to carry it through." He consulted a list which he extracted from a
drawer. "Take two psychologists with youтАФKalma and Hefni."
"Very well, sir." Impassively, Fane saluted and went out, Parth following.
Staring absently at his half-written report, Cruin fiddled with his pen for a while,
glanced up at Jusik, and spat: "At what are you smiling?"
Jusik wiped it from his face, looked solemn.
"Come on. Out with it!"
"I was thinking, sir," replied Jusik, slowly, "that three years in a ship is a very long
time."
Slamming his pen on the desk, Cruin stood up. "Has it been any longer for others
than for me?"
"For you," said Jusik, daringly but respectfully, "I think it has been longest of all." .
"Get out!" shouted Cruin.
He watched the other go, watched the self-closer push the door, waited for its last
click. He shifted his gaze to the port, stared hard-eyed into the gathering dusk. His
heelbells were silent as he stood unmoving and saw the invisible sun sucking its last