"E. E. Doc Smith - D'Alembert 10 - Revolt of the Galaxy" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith E. E. Doc)

single integrated circuit chip - the recognition symbol of the conspiracy that was out to
overthrow the Empire. Pias's worst fears were suddenly realized: Tas Bavol had sold his soul, and
the entire planet of Newforest, to the Empire's worst enemy.

CHAPTER 5
The Resurrection of Pias Bavol
"I wish I could say it was good to see you again," Pias replied in even tones. As he spoke, his
mind raced. Tas might not know that Pias was now an agent of SOTE, or that he'd had special
training. For all he knew, Pias had returned at Beti's request, to undermine Tas's authority. As
long as he thought that, there was a chance Pias could somehow talk his way out of the situation-
but if Tas ever learned that he represented the Service, Pias was not likely to survive the
revelation.
"Yes, you never liked me," Tas sneered.
"I always treated you fairly."
"Of course-big brother generously doling out the crumbs. I got tired of a steady diet of crumbs. I
wanted the whole loaf, and now I've got it."
"And are you happy now that you've got what you want, now that you've enslaved our whole planet?"
"You always were the romantic," Tas said. "The truth is far less melodramatic than you make it
seem. Newforest was a sleepy, backwater place with nothing to recommend it. I'm merely yanking it
into the twenty-fifth century, preparing it for its proper place in galactic affairs. I'm making


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it strong, Pias. Naturally people are complaining, the same way your muscles complain when you
exercise them, to build up your body. Change always hurts. The whole Empire is in for a change
soon and a lot of people will be hurt - but the Empire will be a stronger place afterward."
If I'm a romantic, you're a true believer, Pias thought. You'd probably get along well with Tresa
Clunard of Purity. She believed in strength through discipline, too. But aloud he merely said,
"The change would really have hurt poor Beti. You tried to change her from alive to dead."
"Beti has the same streak of romanticism you do. I merely wanted to have her brought back here
where I could keep an eye on her, to keep her from hurting herself and others." He gave a wry
smile and shook his head. "Poor Pias, trying to be a knight coming to the rescue, just like in all
those old stories you liked to read. My people had you pegged from the moment you entered
Garridan; when you applied for the citizen's card, your fingerprints and retinal patterns were
examined and matched up with the old ones we had on file. We knew exactly where you were and what
you were doing every step of the way. We wanted to keep you out of trouble, but it seems you have
this knack for going where you don't belong."
"And now I suppose you're going to lock me up for my own good, just like you've done with the rest
of the family."
Tas didn't get a chance to answer, for at that moment an explosion rocked the walls of the
computer facility. It was far enough away to sound merely like a dull roar, but it was quickly
followed by two more blasts that came progressively closer.
"What ... ?" Tas exclaimed as he looked around in confusion. The guards behind him were no less
con fused, and several of them ran out of the room to investigate this new threat to the computer
complex.
Recovering quickly from his moment of astonishment, Tas turned back toward his brother - but Pias
was no longer the obliging target. He didn't know, either, what the cause of the explosions was,
but he'd been primed to take advantage of any break that might come his way, and when the blasts