"E. E. Doc Smith - The Galaxy Primes" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith E. E. Doc)

creatures, naked and unarmed on the ground? The Arpolones were non-human people. These things were - what?
At the door of the Field Office the reporter, after turning Garlock over to a startlingly beautiful, leggy, breasty,
blonde receptionist-usherette, hurried away.
He flecked a feeler at her mind and stiffened. How could a Two - a high Two, at that - be working as an usherette?
And with her guard down clear to the floor? He probed - and saw.
'Lola!' He flashed a tight-beamed thought. 'You aren't putting out anything about our sexual customs, family life, and
so on.'
'Of course not. We must know their mores first.' "Good girl. Keep your shield up.'
'Oh, we're so glad to see you, Captain Garlock!' The blonde, who was dressed little more heavily than the cigarette
girls in Venusberg's Cartier Room, seized his left hand in both of hers and held it considerably longer than was
necessary. Her dazzling smile, her laughing eyes, her flashing white teeth, the many exposed inches of her skin, and
her completely unshielded mind all waved banners of welcome.
'Captain Garlock, Governor Atterlin has been most anxious to see you ever since you were first detected. This way,
please, sir.' She turned, brushing her bare hip against his leg in the process, and led him by the hand along a hallway.
Her thoughts flowed on. 'I've been anxious to see you, too, and I'm simply delighted to see you close up, and I hope
to see a lot more of you. You're a wonderfully pleasant surprise, sir; I've never seen a man like you before. I don't
think Hodell ever saw a man like you before, sir. With such a really terrific mind and yet so big and strong and well-
built and handsome and clean-looking and blackish. You're wonderful - you'll be here a long time, I hope? Here we
are, sir.'
She opened a door, walked across the room, sat down in an overstaffed chair, and crossed her legs meticulously.
Then, still smiling happily, she followed with eager eyes and mind Gar-22
lock's every move.
Garlock had been reading Governor Atterlin, so he knew why it was the governor who was in that office instead of
the port manager. He knew that Atterlin had been reading him -as much as he had allowed. They had already
discussed many things, and were still discussing.
The room was much more like a library than an office. The governor, a middle-aged, red-headed man a trifle inclined
to portliness, had been seated in a huge reclining chair facing a teevee screen, but got up to shake hands.
'Welcome, friend Captain Garlock. Now, to continue. As to exchange. Many ships visiting us have nothing we need
or can use. For such, all services are free - or rather, are paid by the city. Our currency is based upon platinum, but
gold, silver, and copper are valuable. Certain jewels also...'
'That's far enough. We will pay our way - we have plenty of metal. What are your ratios of value for the four metals?'
Today's quotations are...' He glanced at a screen, and his fingers flashed over the keys of a computer beside his chair.
'One weight of platinum is equal in value to seven point three four six ...'
'Decimals are not necessary, sir."
'Seven plus, then, weights of gold. One of gold to eleven of silver. One of silver to four of copper.'
'Thank you. We'll use platinum. I bring some bullion tomorrow morning and exchange it for your currency. Shall I
bring it here, or to a bank in the city?'
'Either. Or we can have an armored truck visit your ship.' "That would be better yet Have them bring about five
thousand tanes. Thank you very much, Governor Atterlin, and good afternoon to you, sir.'
'And good afternoon to you, sir. Until tomorrow, then.' 'Oh, may I go with you to your ship, sir, to take just a little
look at it?' the girl asked, winningly.
'Of course, Grand Lady Neldine. I'd like to have your company.'
She seized his elbow and hugged it quickly against her breast. Then, taking his hand, she walked - almost skipped -
along beside him. 'And I want to see Pilot James close up, too, sirтАФthough he's not nearly as wonderful as you are.
And I
23
wonder why Planetographer Bellamy's hair is green? Very striking, of course, sir, but I don't think I'd care for it
much on me - unless you'd think I should?' And so on.
Belle knew, of course, that they were coming; and Garlock knew that Belle's hackles were very much on the rise. She
could not read him, except very superficially, but she was reading the strange girl like a book and was not liking