"Jean and Jeff Sutton - Alien From The Stars" - читать интересную книгу автора (Sutton Jean and Jeff)

the dog and started up a hill to intersect the gully on the far side -- a
saving of nearly a mile of rugged terrain. He'd almost reached the top when
the dog suddenly stopped, a low growl rumbling from its throat.
"What is it, Ruff?" Toby stared fixedly ahead, trying to pinpoint the
source of the dog's alarm. He heard no sign of the hunters. He was starting
ahead when a slight figure came over the brow of the hill. Halting, he gazed
incredulously at it. His first impression that it was a very small boy was
quickly erased by the sight of the almost noseless face, the enormous violet
eyes. The small, pointed ears were erect. Its garments appeared made of red
mesh.
The creature -- for that was the way Toby first thought of it -- halted
abruptly at almost the same instant, the large violet eyes fixed on Toby
across the space of a dozen paces.
 Don't be afraid. The words popped into Toby's mind. It took him an
instant to realize that the words weren't his own but had come from the
strange creature opposite him. There had been no sound, yet he had heard as
plainly as if by voice! Unable to speak, he stared bewilderedly at the other -
- at the arms overly long for the slight body, at the long, prehensile
fingers, at the strange reddish garment that held the slight gleam of a
metallic material. The small, narrow feet were similarly clad.
Don't be afraid. The silent voice came into his mind again. This time he
had no doubt that it had come from the creature; he also had no doubt that
there had been no audible sound. No audible sound? A tremor ran through his
body.
"I'm not afraid," he managed to say. At that instant the dog dashed
forward, its stubby tail wagging. As the creature reached out to stroke it,
the dog licked at the long, prehensile fingers.
I'm a stranger. The silent words came again. This time Toby was more
wondering than alarmed. Ruff was a one-man dog; it wasn't like him to make
friends so easily. That he did now was reassuring. Toby tried to stifle his
swirling thoughts.
"Who are you?" he asked.
My name is Barlo.
"I'm Toby...Toby Adams," he blurted. Looking at the slight figure, he
felt an enormous suspicion and with it felt a wild excitement. "You're not
from Earth," he exclaimed.
No...The large violet eyes watched him gravely.
"You can't be from one of the planets," Toby rushed on. "None of them
has a suitable atmosphere."
No, I'm not from one of your planets.
"The stars?" he whispered.
From the stars, acknowledged Barlo.
"How is it that I can hear you when you're not speaking?"
I'm speaking through my mind.
"Telepathy?"
What you call telepathy, yes.
"But how can I hear you?" Toby gazed awestruck at him. "Even if you're
telepathic, I'm not."
I project my thoughts into your mind, explained Barlo.
"But how" -- Toby groped with his thoughts -- "how did you learn the