"A. E. Van Vogt - The Best Of A. E. Van Vogt" - читать интересную книгу автора (Van Vogt A E)

Aurigae II
Dear Pen Pal:
Thanks a lot for forcing the issue. For a long time I hesitated about letting you play such a trick on
yourself. You see, the government scientists analyzed the nature of that first photographic plate you sent
me, and so the final decision was really up to me. I decided that anyone as eager as you were to put one
over should be allowed to succeed.
Now I know I didnтАЩt have to feel sorry for you. Your plan to conquer Earth wouldnтАЩt have gotten
anywhere, but the fact that you had the idea ends the need for sympathy. By this time you will have
realized for yourself that a man who has been paralyzed since birth, and is subject to heart attacks,
cannot expect a long life span. I am happy to tell you that your once lonely pen pal is enjoying himself,
and I am happy to sign myself with a name to which I expect to become accustomed.
With best wishes
Skander



THE GREEN FOREST


тАЬHERE!тАЭ said Marenson.
He put the point of his pencil down in the center of a splotch of green. His eyes focused on the wiry
man opposite him.
тАЬRight here, Mr. Clugy,тАЭ he said, тАЬis where the camp will be built.тАЭ
Clugy leaned forward and glanced at the spot. Then he looked up; and Marenson was aware of the
spacemanтАЩs slate-gray eyes studying him. Clugy drew slowly back into his chair, and said in a monotone:
тАЬWhy that particular spot?тАЭ
тАЬOh,тАЭ said Marenson, тАЬI have a feeling weтАЩll get more juice from there.тАЭ
 тАЬA feeling!тАЭ The words came explosively. Clugy swallowed hard, and said quietly: тАЬMr. Marenson,
thatтАЩs dangerous jungle country.тАЭ He stood up, and bent over the map of the Mira sun planet. тАЬNow,
here,тАЭ he said briskly, тАЬin this mountain country itтАЩs bad enough, but the animal and plant life can be
fought off, and the climate is bearable.тАЭ
Marenson shook his head, and put his pencil back to the green splotch. тАЬHere,тАЭ he said with finality.
Clugy went back to his chair and sat down. He was a lean man with the tan of many suns on his face.
Marenson was aware of the spacemanтАЩs hard eyes studying him. The other seemed to be tensing himself
for a violent verbal battle. Abruptly, he must have decided against a head-on clash with his superior.
тАЬBut why?тАЭ he said in a perplexed tone. тАЬAfter all, the problem is very simple. A big ship is being built,
and we need the organic juice from the progeny of these Mira beasts.тАЭ
тАЬExactly,тАЭ said Marenson, тАЬso we locate our camp in the forest which is their main habitat.тАЭ
тАЬWhy not,тАЭ Clugy persisted, тАЬleave the job of selecting the camp site to the field men--the hunters?тАЭ
Marenson put his pencil down deliberately. He was accustomed to dealing with people who opposed
his plans. He thought of himself as a calm man whose patience was exhausted.
There were times when he gave detailed reasons for his actions, and there were times when he didnтАЩt.
This was one of the times when he didnтАЩt; under the rulings, actually, he couldnтАЩt. A glance at the wall
clock showed that it was ten to four. Tomorrow at this hour he would be clearing his desk preliminary to
leaving on a monthтАЩs vacation with Janet. Between now and then he had a score of vital things to do. It
was time to break off the interview. He said in a formal voice:
тАЬI take full responsibility for my decision. And now, Mr. Clugy--тАЭ
He stopped, conscious that he had said the wrong thing. It was not often that there were scenes in this
sumptuous office with its hundred-story view of the capital of the galaxy. Usually the deep space men
who came in here were properly impressed by Ancil Marenson and his resonant baritone voice. But he