"Arcady And Boris Strugatsky. Prisoners of Power" - читать интересную книгу автора

nothing because they are anonymous and continually devour each other... He
should talk with Vepr," he suggested to Broadshoulders. "They'd find a
common language."
"Good. I'll talk with Vepr about the Creators. But now..."
"Too late for that," said Memo angrily. "Vepr's been shot."
"The one-armed fellow," explained Ordi. "Yes, you should know about
that."
"I do," said Maxim. "But he wasn't shot. He was sentenced to exile in
the penal colony, for reeducation."
"Impossible!" exclaimed Broadshoulders. "Vepr?"
"Yes," replied Maxim. "Gel Ketshef was sentenced to death. Vepr, to the
penal colony. Another fellow who refused to give his name - the civilian
took him. Probably for counterintelligence."
Again there was a long pause. The doctor sipped his drink.
Broadshoulders sat quietly. Forester groaned and looked at Ordi
sympathetically. She stared at the table, her lips pressed together tightly.
This was a dangerous subject and Maxim was sorry he had raised it. Everyone
was shaken - except Memo, who appeared more afraid than upset. "People like
him should not be given machine guns, " thought Maxim. "He'll gun us all
down."
"Well, now," said Broadshoulders, "do you have any more questions?"
"I certainly do. Many. But I'm afraid they may strike you as tactless."
"Let's have them anyway."
"All right, just one more. What do the ABM towers have to do with you?
How do they interfere with your lives?"
Everyone laughed scornfully.
"There's a fool for you," said Forester. "OK, he wants to know the
reason, he wants a theoretical foundation. So give it to him."
"They're not ABM towers," explained the doctor. "They're our curse.
They invented a radiation-transmission device which they use to create
'degenerates.' Most people, like you, for example, are totally unaffected by
this radiation, but because of certain peculiarities in their physiology an
unfortunate minority experience excruciating pain during radiation strikes.
Some can tolerate the pain, others cannot, and they scream; one-third lose
consciousness; one-fourth go insane or die. The towers deliver nationwide
strikes twice daily. While we lie in the streets, helpless with pain, we are
caught and arrested. There are also short-range radiation devices in patrol
cars. In addition there are self-activated devices and random radiation
strikes at night. There's no place we can hide from them. There are no
shields, We go mad, shoot ourselves, do all sorts of senseless things out of
desperation. We're dying out."
The doctor fell silent, grabbed the mug, and drained it. His face
twitched as he inhaled furiously on his pipe.
"It's pointless to tell him," said Memo suddenly. "He doesn't have the
slightest idea of what it means to live like this - to wait each day for
the next radiation strike."
"Well," said Broadshoulders, "in that case, there's nothing further to
discuss. Ordi has expressed herself in favor of him. Who else is in favor,
and who is opposed?"
"I want to explain why I'm in favor of him," Ordi said. "First of all,