"Vernor Vinge - A Deepness in the Sky" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vinge Vernor)

building the exquisite structure that is a terraform ecology.

Lowcinder itself was near the center of an extravagant black stain, the product of centuries of
тАЬnucleonically cleanтАЭ rocket fuels. This was TrilandтАЩs largest groundside spaceport, yet the cityтАЩs recent
growth was as grim and slumlike as all the others on the planet.

Their flyer switched to fans and trundled across the city, slowly descending. The sun was very low, and
the streets were mostly in twilight. But every kilometer the streets seemed narrower. Custom composites
gave way to cubes that might have once been cargo containers. Sammy watched grimly. The First Settlers
had worked for centuries to create a beautiful world; now it was exploding out from under them. It was a
common problem in terraformed worlds. There were at least five reasonably painless methods of
accommodating the terraformтАЩs final success. But if the First Settlers and their тАЬForestry DepartmentтАЭ
were not willing to adopt any of them. . .well, there might not be a civilization here to welcome his fleetтАЩs
return. Sometime soon, he must have a heart-to-heart chat with members of the ruling class.

His thoughts were brought back to the present as the flyer dumped down between blocky tenements.


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 A DEEPNESS IN THE SKY

Sammy and his Forestry goons walked through half-frozen slush. Piles of clothingтАФdonations?тАФlay
jumbled in boxes on the steps of the building they approached. The goons detoured around them. Then
they were up the steps and indoors.



The cemeteriumтАЩs manager called himself Brother Song, and he looked old unto death. тАЬBidwel
Ducanh?тАЭ His gaze slid nervously away from Sammy. Brother Song did not recognize SammyтАЩs face, but
he knew the Forestry Department. тАЬBidwel Ducanh died ten years ago.тАЭ

He was lying.He was lying.

Sammy took a deep breath and looked around the dingy room. Suddenly he felt as dangerous as some
fleet scuttlebutt made him out to be.Godforgive me, but I will do anything to get the truth from this man.
He looked back at Brother Song and attempted a friendly smile. It must not have come out quite right; the
old man stepped back a pace. тАЬA cemeterium is a place for people to die, is that right, Brother Song?тАЭ

тАЬIt is a place for all to live to the natural fullness of their time. We use all the money that people bring, to
help all the people who come.тАЭ In the perverse Triland situation, Brother SongтАЩs primitivism made a
terrible kind of sense. He helped the sickest of the poorest as well as he could.

Sammy held up his hand. тАЬI will donate one hundred years of budget to each of your orderтАЩs cemeteria. .
.if you take me to Bidwel Ducanh.тАЭ

тАЬIтАФтАЭ Brother Song took another step backwards, and sat down heavily. Somehow he knew that Sammy
could make good on his offer. Maybe.. . . But then the old man looked up at Sammy and there was a
desperate stubbornness in his stare. тАЬNo. Bidwel Ducanh died ten years ago.тАЭ

Sammy walked across the room and grasped the arms of the old manтАЩs chair. He brought his face down