"A. E. Van Vogt - The Rat & the Snake & Other Stories" - читать интересную книгу автора (Van Vogt A E)

But the truth is that you operate within limitations. Our ship
is so built that no conceivable chain reaction could be started
in it. For every plate of potential unstable material in it there
is a counteracting plate, which prevents the development of a
critical pile. You might be able to set off -explosions in our
engines, but they, too, would be limited, and would merely
start the process for which they are intendedconfined in
their proper space."
He was aware of Yoal touching his arm. "Careful," warned
the historian. "Do not in your just anger give away vital in-
formation."
Enash shook off the restraining sucker. "Let us not be un-
realistic," he said harshly. "This thing has divined most of
our racial secrets, apparently merely by looking at our bodies.
We would be acting childishly if we assumed that he has not
already realized the possibilities of the situation."
"Eruishi" Captain Gorsid's voice was imperative.
As swiftly as it had come, Enash's rage subsided. He
stepped back. "Yes, commander."
"I think I know what you intended to say," said Captain
Gorsid. "I assure you ,1 am in full accord, but I believe also
that I, as the top Ganae official, should deliver the ultimatum."
He turned. His homy body towered above the man. "You
have made the unforgivable threat. You have told us, in effect,
that you will attempt to restrict the vaulting Ganae spirit."
"Not the spirit," said the man.
The commander ignored the interruption. "Accordingly, we
have no alternative. We are assuming that, given time to lo-
cate the materials and develop the tools, you might be able to
build a reconstructor. In our opinion it will be at least two
years before you can complete it, even if you know how. It is
an immensely intricate machine, not easily assembled by the
lone survivor of a race that gave up its machines millennia
before disaster struck.
"You did not have time to build a spaceship. We won't
give you time to build a reconstructor.
"Within a few minutes our ship will start dropping bombs.
It is possible you will be able to prevent explosions in your vi-
cinity. We will start, accordingly, on the other side of the
planet. If you stop us there, then we will assume we need
help. In six months of travelling at top acceleration, we can
reach a point where the nearest Ganae planet would hear our
messages. They will send a fleet so vast that all your powers
of resistance will be overcome. By dropping a hundred or a
thousand bombs every minute, we will succeed in devastating
every city so that not a grain of dust will remain of the skele-
tons of your people.
"That is our plan. So it shall be. Now, do your worst
to us who are at your mercy."
The man shook his head. "I shall do nothingnow!" he