"A. E. Van Vogt - The Players of Null-A" - читать интересную книгу автора (Van Vogt A E)

few million they actually try to hide them. Years ago, Enro had to evolve an elaborate system for locating armies lost in
just that fashion.'
She broke off. 'Did you find out how much longer we can stay here?'
'Bad news on that point,' said Crang. 'They have orders on Gela 30 to cut Venus off the individual "matrix" circuit
the moment you and I get to Gela. They're leaving the way open for ships to come this way, which is something, but I
was told that the individual "Distorters" will be cut off in twenty-four hours, whether we get to Gela or not.'
He stood frowning. 'If only Gosseyn would hurry. I think I could hold them an extra day or so without revealing your
identity. I think we should take the risk involved. As I see it, Gosseyn's more important than we are.'
There's a tone in your voice,' Patricia Hardie said sharply. 'Something has happened. Is it war?'
Crang hesitated then: 'When I was sending the message just now, I tuned in on a confusion of calls from somewhere
near the center of the galaxy. Some nine hundred thousand warships are attacking the central League powers in the
Sixth Decant.'
The young woman was silent for a long time. When she finally spoke, there were tears in her eyes. 'So Enro has
taken the plunge.' She shook her head angrily and wiped her tears. That settles it. I'm through with him. You can do
anything you please to him if you ever get the chance.'
Crang felt unmoved. 'It was inevitable. The quickness of it annoys me. We've been caught off base. Just imagine,
waiting till yesterday to send Dr. Kair to Earth to look for Gosseyn.'
'When will he get there?' She waved her hand. 'Never mind. You've told me that before, haven't you? Day after
tomorrow. Eldred, we can't wait.'
She stood up, and came over to him. Her eyes were narrowed with speculation as she studied his face. 'You're not
going to make us take any desperate chances, I hope.'
 'If we don't wait,' said Crang, 'Gosseyn'll be cut off here nine hundred seventy-one light-years from the nearest
interstellar transport.'
Patricia said quickly, 'At any moment Enro might have an atomic bomb "similarized" into the pit.'
'I don't think he'll destroy the base. It took too long to build up, and, besides, I have an idea he knows you're here.'
She looked at him sharply, 'Where would he obtain such information?'
Crang smiled. 'From me,' he said. 'After all, I had to tell Thorson who you were to save your life. I also told an
intelligence agent of Enro.'
'Still,' said Patricia, 'all this is based on wishful thinking. If we get out safely, we can come back for Gosseyn.1
Crang stared at her thoughtfully. тАШThere's more to this than meets the eye. You forget that Gosseyn always assumed
that beyond him, or behind him, was a being he called, for want of a better name, a cosmic chess player. That's, of
course, a wild comparison, but if it had any application whatsoever, then we've got to assume a second player. Chess is
not a game of solitaire. Another thing: Gosseyn regarded himself as approximately a seventh-row pawn. Well, I think
he became a queen when he killed Thorson. I tell you, Reesha, it's dangerous, to leave a queen in a position where it
can't move. He should be out in the open, out among the stars, where he'll have the greatest possible mobility. In my
opinion, so long as the players are hidden and able to make their moves without being caught or observed, just so long
is Gosseyn in deadly danger. I think a delay of even a few months might be fatal.'
Patricia was briefly silent, then: 'Just where are we going?'
'Well, we'll have to use the regular transmitters. But I plan on us stopping somewhere to get news. If it's what I think
it will be, there's only one place for us to go.'
'Oh!' the woman said in a flat tone. 'Just how long do you intend to wait?'
Crang gazed at her somberly, and drew a deep breath. 'If Gosseyn's name,' he said, 'is on the passenger list of the
President Hardie--and I'll get that list a few minutes after it takes off from Earth--we'll wait here till it arrives--three
days
and two nights from now.' 'And if his name is not on the list?тАЩ Then we leave here as soon as we've made sure of
that.' The name of Gilbert Gosseyn, as it turned out, was not on
the passenger list of the President Hardie.
8:43 a.m. Gosseyn wakened with a start, and almost simultaneously became aware of three things: what the time
was, that the sun was shining through the hotel room window, and that the videophone beside the bed was buzzing
softly but insistently.