"David Gerrold - Chtorr 1 - A Matter for Men" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gerrold David)

The War Against the Chtorr
Book 1
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A Matter for Men

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David Gerrold
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Acknowledgments
The following people have provided valuable support and made significant contributions to this book:
Dennis Ahrens
Jack Cohen
Diane Duane
Richard Fontana
Harvey and Johanna Glass
Robert and Ginny Heinlein
Don Hetsko
Rich Sternbach
Tom Swale
Linda Wright

? For Robert and Ginny Heinlein, with love
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Chtorr (ktor) n. 1. The planet Chtorr, presumed to exist within 30 light-years of Earth. 2. The star system
in which the planet occurs; a red giant star, presently unidentified. 3. The ruling species of the planet
Chtorr; generic. 4. In formal usage, either one or many members of same; a Chtorr, the Chtorr. (See
Chtor-ran) 5. The glottal chirruping cry of a Chtorr.
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Chtor-ran (ktor-en) adj. 1. Of or relating to either the planet or the star system, Chtorr. 2. Native to
Chtorr. n. 1. Any creature native to Chtorr. 2. In common usage, a member of the primary species, the
(presumed) intelligent life form of Chtorr. (pl. Chtor-rans)
-The Random House Dictionary of the English Language, Century 21 Edition, unabridged
? ONE

"MCCARTHY, keep down!"
"Yes, sir."
"-and shut up."
I shut. There were five of us climbing up the slope of a sparsely wooded ridge. We angled diagonally
through high yellow grass so dry it crunched. July had not been kind to Colorado. A spark would turn
these mountains into an inferno.
Just before each man reached the top he sprawled flat against the slope, then inched slowly forward.
Duke was in the lead, wriggling through the tall weeds like a snake. We'd topped five hills this way today
and the heat was getting to me. I thought about ice water and the jeep we'd left back on the road.
Duke edged up to the crest and peered down into the valley beyond. One at a time, Larry, Louis and
Shorty moved up beside him. I was the last-as usual. The others had thoroughly read the land by the time
I crawled into place. Their faces were grim.
Duke grunted. "Larry, pass me the binoculars."
Larry rolled onto his left side to unstrap the case from his right hip. Wordlessly, he passed them over.