"Arthur Tofte - The Day the Earth Stood Still" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tofte Arthur)

"I too will watch and listen," Gnut said.
General Sanders had called a meeting of his staff. As soon as all were seated,
he plunged immediately into the problem at hand. It was obvious that he
considered it a problem of prime magnitude.
"The President," he said, "has put all authority to deal with our visitors in
my hands. The police will be used to control the crowds. I intend to use
soldiers to guard the ship."
He paused and looked around at the officers seated at the conference table.
"The alien," he went on, "is in his hospital room. I have not yet had a report
on his condition. He could be dead by now. Or dying. However, to play safe, I
have ordered a squad of my men to guard the hospital: some inside and some in
the grounds around the hospital. I want to take no chance."
"What do you fear, General?" one of the colonels spoke up.
"Fear? Only a fool would not be afraid. This is the first alien ship in all
human history to land on Earth. We know nothing about it. It could be the
forerunner of an invasion force of super-aliens from outer space. They could
have weapons beyond anything we have ever known or dreamed of. The President
specifically ordered me to use every precaution."
"That man who was shot, the one who called himself Klaatu, didn't seem very
warlike."
"Granted. But can we afford to be remiss in our duty to our country's safety?
Until we know why they came and whether or not they are a threat to us, we
have to use the greatest possible vigilance."
"How about the robot, the one he called Gnut?"
General Sanders passed a hand nervously across his moist forehead. "I've been
getting regular reports. He hasn't moved. Possibly with Klaatu gone, he can't
move. I have, however, taken care to have the half-tracks taken away and
replaced by a dozen heavy tanks with high-powered missiles. All have their
guns aimed at the creature and at the ship. I repeat, I am convinced we should
use great caution with these mysterious alien visitors."
He paused as he looked around again. "Gentlemen, we are facing an unknown
force. If only...if only that madman had not shot the alien. By now we might
have the answers to the disturbing questions that must be in all our minds. In
the morning... perhaps by then... we may know more. Dismissed."
Cliff Sutherland, in his small apartment, quickly opened a can of beef stew.
While it was heating, he stripped and took a fast shower. As soon as he had
eaten, he 1ooked yearningly at his bed. Never had he felt more tired.
But no--first he would have to develop the pictures he had taken. It was much
too late to try to peddle them to a news syndicate. The area had been swarming
with photographers and reporters. In the morning he would have to figure out a
way to get some exclusive shots. He hoped nothing important happened while he
slept.
One by one he developed and ran fast prints of the views he had taken. They
were good but not spectacular. The only one that really intrigued him was one
he had taken of Gnut just before he left for his apartment.
Staring at the picture now, it seemed that the eyes of the giant creature were
boring right into him. Gnut--there was the answer! He would concentrate on the
alien robot.

Chapter 3.