"Eric Flint - Ranks of Bronze 2 - Carthago Delenda Est" - читать интересную книгу автора (Flint Eric)

“There is something else, Guild Voivode.”
 “Yes?”

“I used a broad-range program in my search, and it brought up all information concerning
this planet. In addition to the original sepoy records, there is also a significant—perhaps
significant—item of meteorological data.”

Agayan’s finger-clusters began to flex. “What is the point of this?” he demanded.

The Pilot turned a very dark purple, in her attempt to placate the Voivode’s rising irritation.

“The Federation’s Meteorological Survey has been paying close attention to that region of
the galaxy. A Transit storm has been moving down that spiral arm for many thousands of
Guild years. The human planet and its environs were cut off from all Transport nodes shortly
after the sepoys were recruited. The nodes were only reestablished two hundred Guild years
ago.”

“Has a Guild vessel returned to that planet since Transit possibility was renewed?”

“No, Guild Voivode. Nor has any Federation ship. But shortly after the nodes re-formed,
the Meteorological Survey began detecting oddities in the region, which they eventually
pinpointed to that planet’s solar system. They didn’t know what to make of the peculiar data,
until they thought to consult with the Federation’s Historiographic Bureau.”

Seeing the Voivode’s increasingly rapid finger-flexing, the Pilot hurried to her conclusion.

“The data indicate that the natives of that planet have recently developed the capacity to
manipulate the electromagnetic spectrum. Radio waves, to be precise.”

Agayan’s clusters spread wide with puzzlement.

“Radio? Of what possible use—”

“It is a primitive technique, Guild Voivode. No advanced civilization bothers with radio,
but—according to the Historiographic Bureau, at least—the radio portion of the
electromagnetic spectrum is typically the first point of entry for civilizations which—”

The significance of the information finally penetrated. Agayan lurched erect.

“Civilization?” he screeched. “Are you trying to claim that these—these human savages have
reached the point of industrial chain reaction?”

The Pilot scuttled back on her footskirt. Her color was now so deep a purple as to be almost
black.

“I’m not claiming anything, Guild Voivode! I’m just relaying what the—”

“Ridiculous! I know these humans, you fool! They served under me. There is no—no—”