"Great Slow Kings, The" - читать интересную книгу автора (Zelazny Roger)

After what he deemed a polite period of time, Drax coughed.

"Have you thought sufficiently?"

"No."

Drax struggled to focus his eyes on the near-subliminal streak of
bluish light which traversed, re-traversed and re-re-traversed the Hall as
he waited.

"Zindrome!" he finally called out.

The robot slowed his movements to a statue-like immobility to
accommodate his master. A feather duster protruded from his right limb.

"You called, great Lord of Glan?"

"Yes, Zindrome, worthy subject. Those old spaceships which we
constructed in happier days, and never got around to using. Are any of them
still capable of operation?"

"I'll check, great Lord."

He seemed to change position slightly.

"There are three hundred eighty-two," he announced, "of which four are
in functioning condition, great Lord. I've checked all the operating
circuits."

"Drax," warned Dran, "you are arrogating unauthorized powers to
yourself once more. You should have conferred with me before issuing that
order."

"I apologize," stated the other. "I simply wanted to expedite matters,
should your decision be that we conduct a survey."

"You have anticipated my decision correctly," nodded Dran, "but your
eagerness seems to bespeak a hidden purpose."

"No purpose but the good of the realm," smiled the other.

"That may be, but the last time you spoke of 'the good of the realm'
the civil strife which ensued cost us our other robot."

"I have learned my lesson and profited thereby. I shall be more
judicious in the future."

"I hope so. Now, about this investigation--which part of the galaxy do
you intend to investigate first?"