"Colin Wilson - Spiderworld 04 - The Delta" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wilson Colin)

strictly segregated. Only the slaves -- who are little more than imbeciles -- are eaten by
the spiders.
In the centre of the spider city stands the mysterious white tower, constructed by
men of old for some long-forgotten purpose. Every attempt by the spiders to penetrate its
smooth, glass-like walls has been unsuccessful. Niall witnesses the latest attempt by the
servants of the bombardier beetles -- led by the sapper Bill Doggins -- and comes close to
being blown to pieces. The tower evidently holds some important secret.
In the spider city, King Kazak has once again established himself as a leader of
men, and is collaborating with the spiders. When Niall again encounters Merlew, he
begins to believe that she may be in love with him after all. From Kazak, he learns the
horrible truth about the fate of the spider-servants, and is strongly tempted by an offer to
become the King's ally. But another glimpse into Merlew's true feelings drives him to
escape.
With the aid of the telescopic rod, he learns the secret of entering the white tower.
It is a time capsule, left there by the men of old before they left the earth in giant space
transports. And during the next few days, Niall learns the past history of the human race
from a humanoid computer called the Steegmaster. There is only one secret that the
computer refuses to divulge -- how human beings can conquer the spiders. This is
something Niall has to learn for himself.
Hunted by the spiders, he takes refuge in the slave quarter of the city. He
succeeds in becoming the overseer of a contingent of slaves, whom he leads to the city of
the bombardier beetles, known to the slaves as Crashville. Because the beetles have
always defended themselves with detonations of hot gas, they adore explosions -- the
bigger and louder, the better. Niall has arrived on Boomday, their festival of explosions,
organised by the chief explosives expert, Bill Doggins. During the festival, Niall gains an
unexpected ally in the beautiful Odina, a guard Commander who has fallen in love with
him. And, when Boomday in Crashville culminates in unforeseen disaster, Doggins also
agrees to become Niall's ally, in exchange for Niall's agreement to lead him to the
Fortress, a disused barracks in the slave quarter, where Doggins hoped to find
explosives.
He finds far more than he expected; not only explosives, but "reapers," the
deadliest weapon -- apart from the hydrogen bomb -- ever invented by man. Trapped by
the spiders, they escape back to the city of the beetles in stolen spider balloons; but
Doggins is forced to use his Reaper to destroy the army of spiders besieging the city.
Their escapade has started a war between the beetles and the spiders.
They are taken before the ruler of the beetles -- the Master -- to answer for their
insubordination. There they are confronted by the Spider Lord, speaking through the
mouth of Odina, whose brain he controls. The beetles agree to hand over Doggins for
punishment, but have their doubts about the legality of handing over Niall, a free human
being who had every right to escape. The Spider Lord, enraged at the thought that his
prey might elude him, tries to strangle Niall. In the ensuing struggle, Odina is killed. And
the beetles, incensed by this attempt at treachery, decide that Niall shall remain free. As
he tries to express his gratitude, Niall loses consciousness. . .
 PART ONE
The Councils




THE FIRST TIME NIALL WOKE UP he was in agony. His throat felt as if he had