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

would be rescued.
"When?"
"Eventually."
"How will they know where you are?" Toby argued. Barlo explained that a
search would have been launched immediately when the big Zemm liner had failed
to reach its destination. Even now rescue units Would be combing every moon
and planet along the big ship's flight path. He explained about the capsule
he'd launched into orbit and added that he also could transmit a distress
signal that would guide any nearby craft to him.
"But they might not come for a long time," protested Toby.
"It shouldn't be too long." The large violet eyes regarded him steadily.
Toby felt a sudden suspicion.
"There's some other reason you won't come," he accused.
The faint smile that came contrasted strangely with Barlo's suddenly
solemn demeanor. "I'm afraid," he admitted.
"Of my people?" Toby suppressed a start. "They're not all like the
hunters."
Barlo asked quietly, "What do you believe might happen if word got
around that a creature from the stars was staying with your family?"
"Yeah." Toby licked his lips drily. He could see that. The people would
come flooding in from San Diego by the thousands. Even from Los Angeles,
perhaps farther. There'd be reporters and TV cameramen all over the place. The
flying-saucer stories came vividly to his mind. A lot of people would be
scared. They might even think Barlo was an invader of some sort.
"It's bad enough that I flew over the highway," observed Barlo.
"They probably thought it was some kind of an experimental ship," Toby
suggested hopefully. "There are a couple of Air Force bases on the other side
of the mountains."
"It's possible." Barlo didn't appear convinced.
"Are you going to stay in your ship?"
"I can't." His eyes rested on Toby's face. "If the ship is discovered,
I'll have to destroy it; and if I were in it, I would die. I don't prefer
that."
"Why would you have to destroy it?" Toby didn't think it made sense.
 Barlo regarded him thoughtfully. "It has secrets," he said finally.
"The propulsion system?" blurted Toby. "Is it a star drive?" He knew all
about star drives from science fiction.
"Not the scout pod." Barlo shook his head. "But the principle is
similar. It could lead to the development of such a drive."
"What's wrong with that?"
"The people from Earth might not be ready for the stars." Barlo stilled
Toby's protest with a gesture. He explained that races which went to the stars
too soon usually ended disastrously. How could a race that didn't fully
understand itself understand an alien culture? How many wars had Earth had?
There hadn't been an interstellar war for more than a million Earth years.
As Barlo spoke, Toby felt his protest weaken and finally vanish
altogether. He could understand Barlo's fears, and he had to admit that they
were founded on a firm basis. There was nearly always war someplace on Earth,
and usually more than one. But the stars! He felt the keen edge of
disappointment to think that the stars would be denied to Earth, even though