"Gordon R. Dickson - Call him lord" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dickson Gordon R)

as Kyle handed the lens to him. "And I wanted to. It's a
rather expensive present, you knowit and the other two like
itfrom our Imperial treasury. Just to keep your planet from
drifting into another ice age. And what do we get for it?"
"Earth, Lord," answered Kyle. "As it was before men went
out to the stars."
"Oh, the museum areas could be maintained with one
station and a half-million caretakers," said the Prince. "It's
the other two stations and you billion or so free-loaders I'm
talking about. I'll have to look into it when I'm Emperor. Shall
we ride?"
"If you wish. Lord." Kyle picked up the reins of the
stallion and the two horses with their riders moved off across
the slope.
". . . And one more thing," said the Prince, as they entered
the farther belt of pine trees. "I don't want you to be misled
I'm really very fond of old Monty, back there. It's just that I
wasn't really planning to come here at allLook at me,
Body guard!"
Kyle turned to see the blue eyes that ran in the Imperial
family blazing at him. Then, unexpectedly, they softened. The
Prince laughed.
"You don't scare easily, do you, Bodyguard... Kyle, I
mean?" he said. "I think I like you after all. But look at me
when I talk."
"Yes, Lord."
"That's my good Kyle. Now, I was explaining to you that
I'd never actually planned to come here on my Grand Tour at
all. I didn't see any point in visiting this dusty old museum
world of yours with people still trying to live like they lived in
the Dark Ages. Butmy Imperial father talked me into it."
"Your father, Lord?" asked Kyle.
"Yes, he bribed me, you might say," said the Prince
thoughtfully. "He was supposed to meet me here for these
three days. Now, he's messaged there's been a'slight delay
but that doesn't matter. The point is, he belongs to the school
of old men who still think your Earth is something precious
and vital. Now, I happen to like and admire my father, Kyle.
You approve of that?"
"Yes, Lord."
"I thought you would. Yes, he's the one man in the human
race I look up to. And to please him, I'm making this Earth
trip. And to please himonly to please him, KyleI'm going
to be an easy Prince for you to conduct around to your
natural wonders and watering spots and whatever. Now, you
understand meand how this trip is going to go. Don't you?"
He stared at Kyle.
"I understand," said Kyle.
"That's fine," said the Prince, smiling once more. "So now
you can start telling me all about these trees and birds and