"E. E. Doc Smith - Lensman 1 - Triplanetary" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith E. E. Doc)

Not one of them retained in his conscious mind any inkling that Eddore did not, possess the only
intelligent life in space.

***

And upon distant Arisia a full meeting of minds was held.

тАЬBut why didnтАЩt you simply kill them?тАЭ Enphilistor asked. тАЬSuch action would be distasteful in the
extreme, of course - almost impossible - but even I can perceive. . . тАЬ

He paused, overcome by his thought.

тАЬThat which you perceive, youth, is but a very small fraction of the whole. We did not attempt to slay
them because we could not have done so. Not because of squeamishness, as you intimate, but from
sheer inability. The Eddorian tenacity of life is a thing far beyond your present understanding; to have
attempted to kill them would have rendered it impossible to make them forget us. We must have time . . .
cycles and cycles of time.тАЭ The fusion broke off, pondered for minutes, then addressed the group as a
whole: тАЬWe, the Elder Thinkers, have not shared fully with you our visualization of the Cosmic All,
because until the Eddorians actually appeared there was always the possibility that our findings might
have been in error. Now, however, there is no doubt.

The Civilization which has been pictured as developing peacefully upon all the teeming planets of two
galaxies will not now of itself come into being. We of Arisia should be able to bring it eventually to full
fruition, but the task will be long and difficult.

тАЬThe EddoriansтАЩ minds are of tremendous latent power. Were they to know of us now, it is practically
certain that they would be able to develop powers and mechanisms by the use of which they would
negate our every effort - they would hurl us out of this, our native space and time. We must have time . . .
given time, we shall succeed. There shall be Lenses . . . and entities of Civilization worthy in every
respect to wear them. But we of Arisia alone will never be able to conquer the Eddorians. Indeed, while
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this is not yet certain, the probability is exceedingly great that despite our utmost efforts at self-
development our descendants will have to breed, from some people to evolve upon a planet not yet in
existence, an entirely new race a race tremendously more capable than ours - to succeed us as
Guardians of Civilization.тАЭ

Centuries passed. Millennia, Cosmic and geologic ages. Planets cooled to solidity and stability. Life
formed and grew and developed. And as life evolved it was subjected to, and strongly if subtly affected
by, the diametrically opposed forces of Arisia and Eddore.

CHAPTER 2 - THE FALL Of ATLANTIS

1. EDDORE тАЬMembers of the innermost circle, wherever you are and whatever you may be
doing, tune in!тАЭ the All-Highest broadcast. тАЬAnalysis of the data furnished by the survey just completed
shows that in general the Great Plan is progressing satisfactorily. There seem to be only four planets