"Philip E. High - These Savage Futurians" - читать интересную книгу автора (High Phillip E)

All the men carried weapons, most of them knives and clumsy-looking
crossbows.

The leader, however, carried a short cutting spear which, after a
cautious look round, he pushed point first into the soil.

"Patrol G for George," he said to the end of the spear.

He waited and the spear spoke: "Receiving you, George-map reference,
please."

The leader gave it and the spear said: "Hum, you won't intercept our
bird from there."

"Where is he?"

"Around fourteen stroke five or, to save you looking it up, just leaving
what used to be Lydden. I'm very much afraid you'll have to trek to Hubel's
Kingdom and make peace signs."

"Thanks for nothing. They don't always recognize them."

"Peary, we want this man badly. Not only is he a specimen but he's shed
his disc. If necessary trade your top goods, blind King Hubel with science,
but get him!"

"Will try—out." Peary pulled the spear out of the ground and grinned
twistedly. "We've got a mission, boys— Hubel's Kingdom."

"The specimen—is he that important?"

"Genetically and biologically I suppose he is."
 "You hope he is." Puttick was scowling. "This patrol always gets the
dirt."

"And that bloody great hill," said one of his companions, sourly. "Why
do we always have to be near Charing?"

They looked upwards.

Charing Hill was not a big hill, not really a steep climb, but years ago
there had been a lot of fighting on those slopes. Time had wiped away the
scars of battle, stunted trees and coarse grass covered the churned soil,
but other things remained. There were still snap-traps, chase-mines and
micro-cannons. True, there was a safe path but it wound up and down and
in and out until you thought it was never going to end. There were also
creatures, the creatures were quite harmless but repulsive. In short, they
made you sick to look at them…

Chapter Three