"Harry Harrison - Planet Of No Return" - читать интересную книгу автора (Harrison Harry)

cartridge from Carver and slipped it into the mechanism. He and Lea bent close
as the screen lit up. Carver collapsed back and listened to the recording
while he sipped at his glass. He had heard it often before and he dozed a bit
through the early material, but snapped awake as it approached the end.
Hartig's recorded voice continued to speak, sounding calm and precise,
although he faced certain extinction, still trying to the last to leave a
record for those who would follow after him. Lea was horrified as the
recording ended and the screen cleared; Brion's impassive face displayed no
emotion as he turned to Carver.
"And Culrel wants us to go to this planet, Selm-II?" He asked. Carver nodded.
"Why? This looks more like a job for the troops. Shouldn't they be sending
something large and well armed that can take care of itself?"

"No. That's exactly what we don't want. Experience has proven that armed
intrusion is never the

28

PLANET OF NO RETURN

answer. War does not work. War kills. What we need is knowledge, information.
We must know what is happening on this planet. We need skilled people like you
two. Perhaps Dis was your first assignment, something that you were drafted
into against your wishes. But you succeeded magnificently, doing what the
specialists themselves said couldn't be done. We want you to put those talents
to use here. I'll not deny that it could be terribly dangerous. But it must be
done."

"I hadn't planned on living forever," Lea said, then leaned over to order some
strong drinks. Her flippancy did not fool Brion.

"I'll go by myself," he said. "I can do this better alone."

"Oh no you can't, you great big brainless slab of muscle. You're not bright
enough to be let out alone. I go with you or you don't go. Try to go by
yourself and I will shoot you right here to save the expense of transporting
you there just to be knocked off."

Brion smiled at this. "Your sympathy and understanding are most touching. I
agree. Your logical arguments have convinced me that that it would be best if
we went together."

"Good." She grabbed up the glass as soon as it appeared from the dispenser and
drank deeply from it. "What's the next step, Carver?"

"A difficult one. We must convince the captain of this ship to change course
and divert to Selm-II. An operational craft will be in orbit around the planet
by now and will be waiting for us there."

"What's difficult about that?" Brion asked.