"Lee Killough - Symphony for a Lost Traveler" - читать интересную книгу автора (Killough Lee)

He piled pillows up and leaned back against them. "Most people won't believe that. All they'll pay
attention to is what they see-- and you and I, of all people, know how much appearance influences what
people think of something or someone."
Anger drained out of Cimela. She bit her lip. Oh yes, she knew. She sighed. "Why tell anyone about
the aliens at all? Say you invented the drive."
His mouth twisted wryly. "Do you really think just having a drive will rekindle the star dream? No,
they'll still talk about wilderness and lack of cost effectiveness. Some explorers go into wilderness just
because they want to know what's there, but most people need a reason: population pressure, military
advantages, trade. Greed is most effective, I think. Promise of profit will goad people into going places
they'd never dream of otherwise."
Cimela sat down on the foot of the bed and hugged her knees. "So you invented attractive aliens and
used me to dangle a trade carrot in front of your guests," she said bitterly.
"I had no other choice."
"You might have told me what you were trying to do. You could have asked me to help."
"After you parroted the words of every stay-at-home who's scoffed at my dream of the stars?"
That stung, but she saw his point "What happens when they learn the truth?"
To her surprise he grinned, shrugging. "It may not be. That's a big galaxy; no one will expect to find
our feathered visitors right away. Even if the truth does eventually leak, we'll be out there; and once
people go into wilderness they usually stay."
The man was incorrigible, totally without conscience. In disbelief; she said, "You'd really base a star
culture on a lie?"
He looked up at the blaze above them. "If that's what it takes. Babies don't remain in the womb
forever. We're crippling mankind's growth by clinging to Earth and the Sun." His gaze dropped to meet
hers. "Think of the possibilities. The trip doesn't have to be one-way. I can even go, and not have to be
content with going by proxy. Think of what we can find. Wouldn't you like to visit a new world and play
the music in the cells of the life there?"
Her breath caught at the flood of possibilities.
He leaned toward her. "Let me take you there. All I ask is that you help me bring the rest of Mankind,
too."
He never stopped manipulating, did he? She almost regretted admiring his motives.
Cimela eyed the fiery blaze overhead. She ought to redo the holo track and make Traveler an honest
symphony. And yet... a universe of life to make music on... Longing throbbed in her. Damn the man!
"Cimela? What do you say?" His hand touched her wrist. The heat of it spread up her arm. "Come on.
Help me."
Sighing, she yielded to siren call above and within her. "All right. You win. You've bought yourself a
Pied Piper."
Published by Alexandria Digital Literature. ( http://www.alexlit.com/ )

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