"C M Kornbluth & Judith Merril - Gunner Cade" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kornbluth C M)

yesterday, sealed by the Power Master, and counter sealed by the Gunner Supreme. He was silent a
moment, then could contain himself no longer. “By all that’s fitting,” he asked, “what sort of talk is this?
Why does an Armsman speak of himself as a man? And how can you think of your ‘own people,’ other
than your brothers in arms?”

The Mars-born Gunner hesitated. “It’s newer on Mars. Six hundred years isn’t a long time. We have
a proverb—‘Earth is changeless, but Mars is young.’ Families—I am descended from Erik Hogness and
Mary Lara, who mapped the Northern Hemisphere long ago. I know my cousins because of that. We all
are descended from Erik Hogness and Mary Lara, who mapped the Northern Hemisphere. I don’t
suppose you know anything about your eight-times great-grandfather or what he may have done?”

“I presume,” said Cade stiffly, “that he did what was fitting to his station, as I will do what is fitting to
mine.”

“Exactly,” said Harrow, and fell silent—disconcertingly resembling a man who had wrung an
admission from an opponent and won an argument by it.

Cade went stiffly to the door and opened it, leaving the empty bowls for Harrow to return. The line of
Armsmen came in sight down the corridor, and they waited at attention to take their place among the
Gunners, marching in silence and with downcast eyes along the route of procession to the lectory.

Seated on the front row of benches, with twenty rows apiece of armigers and novices behind, Cade
was grateful that the Klin teacher had not yet arrived. It left time for him to dispel the perilous mood of
irritation and suspicion. By the time the man did appear, Cade’s troubled spirits had resolved into the
proper quiet glow of appreciation.

It was fitting to be a Gunner; it was fitting to be a Klin teacher; they were almost brothers in their
dedication. The glow nearly vanished when the man began to speak.

Cade had heard many teachers who’d been worse; it made not a particle of difference in the Klin
Philosophy whether it was expounded by a subtle, able teacher or a half-trained younger son of a Star,
as this fellow appeared to be; what was fitting was fitting and would be until the end of time. But on a
Battle Morn, Cade thought, a senior teacher might have been a reasonable tribute. The peril of pride,
came a thought like a gun’s blast, and he recoiled. In contrition he listened carefully, marking the
youngster’s words.

“Since the creation of the worlds ten thousand years ago the Order of Armsmen has existed and
served the Emperor through the Power Master and the Stars. Klin says of armed men: They must be
poor, because riches make men fear to lose them, and fear is unfitting in an Armsman. They must be
chaste, because love of woman makes men love their rulers—the word rulers here means, as always,
with Klin, the Emperor—less. They must be obedient, because the consequence of disobedience is to
make men refuse even the most gloriously profitable death. These are the words of Klin, set down ten
thousand years ago at the creation of the worlds.”

It was wonderful, thought Cade, wonderful how it had all occurred together: the creation of the
worlds, the Emperor to rule them, the Order to serve him, and the Klin Philosophy to teach them how to
serve. The fitness and beautiful economy of it never failed to awe him. He wondered if this creation was
somehow The Fitness, the original of which all others were reflections.

The teacher leaned forward, speaking directly to those in the front row. “You Gunners are envied, but