"Alexander Kazantsev. The Destruction of Faena (ГИБЕЛЬ ФАЭНЫ, англ.)" - читать интересную книгу автора

Chapter Three

THE MASTERS


Dictator Yar Jupi's palace was part of the Temple of Eternity, in which
worship had ceased after the Faetians forgot their religion. Now the Dread
Wall separated the temple from the monastery buildings that had been
converted for the Dictator's use. The soaring spire of black stone resembled
a torpedo with a disintegration warhead. The ancient architects never
suspected that they were anticipating the outlines of a future weapon. Even
less could they have imagined that, in the event of a disintegration war,
the cellars under the Temple of Eternity would house the Central Control
Panel of Defence Automatons. The machines could unleash a death-dealing
swarm of disintegration torpedoes against Danjab.
A session of Peaceful Space was now being held over these fearsome
machines in the former shrine of the temple with its black columns soaring
up into the sky. Its chairman was Dm Sat of Danjab, who had in his time
discovered the disintegration of matter (By the disintegration of matter,
the Faetians meant the nuclear reactions of fissionand synthesis, as a
result of which, as is known, a deficiency of mass is observed; that is,
matter diminishes; it disintegrates, releasing an enormous amount of energy)
and had made a terrible mistake by publishing his discovery on both
continents simultaneously. The great roundhead, as he was called, and the
planet's first authority on matter, had decided that he was as great an
authority on life. Believing that the simultaneous appearance of a
superpowerful weapon on both continents would create a "balance of fear", he
hoped that war would become impossible. However, the tension of the
relations between the continents was growing. Urn Sat had only hit on one of
the causes: overpopulation and hostility because of the lack of room. But
the hostility over profits was far more dangerous. Overpopulation was
aggravating all aspects of the struggle even further. The proprietors on
both continents, while suppressing dissatisfaction of the toilers by force,
were also threatening one another with force across the ocean. It seemed to
them that they could, at the expense of their competitors, not only boost
profits, but could pacify the malcontents in their own country with a small
handout.
The horrified Um Sat was beginning to realise the inevitability of a
disintegration war and he considered himself responsible for it. That is why
he was now trying to find a solution for everything in the exploration of
new space continents, dreaming about the partial resettlement of Faetians on
them and about universal reconciliation.
Heavy responsibility, disillusion, care and fatigue had left their mark
on the old Faetian's face. His high forehead under the dense shock of hair
was furrowed by deep lines. The big, sad eyes were full of kindly wisdom and
understanding. But with it all went a weak chin covered by a greying beard.
In spite of the Sat's tragic mistake, he was still respected for his
tremendous achievements in science and for his unquestionable integrity of