"Bud Sparhawk - Childish Things" - читать интересную книгу автора (Sparhawk Bud)

Her husband placed an arm around her shoulders. тАЬWe have to do this now, for him.тАЭ He gave her a little
squeeze; тАЬDon't worry, it's for the best. You'll see.тАЭ

****

The research team that had been assembled in such haste was now in their fifth year of analysis of the
years long transmission from the stars. Most of the original crew of mathematicians and cryptologists
had remained with the team throughout the project and formed a close and capable group. Patel
Sudhamanada, the chief mathematician of the team placed his signature on the first page of the thick
sheaf of papers that contained their final analysis and turned to his assistant, Jack Foster. тАЬIt is hard to
imagine, isn't it, Jack: a complete physics, the final secrets of life, unlimited power, the answers to all of
our questions finally answered: All ours for the taking. There is a wealth of information beyond anything
we'd ever imagined laying in wait for us within the Message.тАЭ

Foster snorted. тАЬPerhaps, but at what cost to us? You can bet that, somewhere, somehow there's going to
be a payback for whoever sent this.тАЭ The deciphered revelations of the index that had been degarbled
from the initial wideband recordings to the multiplexed message had been astounding. Now that the
team had finally pried loose the contents of the тАЬcover letterтАЭ the wonders that awaited them within the
directory, their next target, were finally revealed. тАЬIf our interpretation of the index is right the Message
will eliminate years, maybe centuries of tedious scientific development. Nobody's going to give that
away for nothing!тАЭ

Patel considered Foster's statement for a moment before replying. Jack had been the eternal pessimist,
joking when they ran into seemingly insurmountable problems that тАЬsome things are not man's to
know.тАЭ Perhaps he hadn't been joking after all? тАЬWhat payback could there possibly be?тАЭ he responded,
тАЬThe message is a scientific bonanza of information. There's no demand for this download, no fees to
pay, nobody threatening to cut us off from the source if we don't meet our bill like your American
networks. No Jack, accept it for what it is; free information from the stars. When the UN sees this
package,тАЭ he patted the stack of papers lovingly, we'll have all the funding we need to get the directory
decoded. Then we'll be able to finally get at the real information inside the rest of the Message.тАЭ

Jack heard Patel's hard emphasis on the word тАЬMessage". Even within the team it was attaining a special
status. He shook his head, he still couldn't get it out of his head that there had to be something they
would have to give up for this knowledge, even though he could hardly conceal his own eagerness to
discover the new revelations that awaited them

****

Father was adamant. тАЬI know it's hard, Freddy. But the new job will be a great chance for us to move to
a new area, find new friends, and start a new life. Come on, you're young enough to be flexible. In no
time you'll have a whole raft of new friends, just as good as the ones you're leaving.тАЭ


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