"David A. Kyle - Lensman 8 - The Dragon Lensmen" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kyle David A)

emergence from childhood of their offspring. There was in these decades no "energy
stasis"-that which always moves forward just to stand still inevitably leads upward and
downward simultaneously. Historical events were taking place-but they become history
only when they are recorded and reported.

The well-established historical research department which E. E. Smith so successfully
created is still at work collecting and assembling facts and eye-witness accounts. There
is a wealth of material available for further tales of the Patrol and its personnel. This
book is the first one written without the direct supervision of the doctor. Your new
historian knew "Doc" for many years, having met him in his space-roamer's garb of
"Northwest Smith of Earth," at the Second Worldcon in Chicago, Tellus-and, having had
him for a lifetime as a guide, appreciates that he was unique. Let no one be deluded,
least of all your present historian, into thinking that this new series of books will be
indistinguishable from the presentations of the original histories. Unique "Doc" was, and
unique he will remain. But the spirit will not be changed-the entire historical research
department will see to that. This historian, whose responsibility is not taken lightly,
pledges fidelity to the "E. E. Smith way" knowing that The Galactic Roamers will not
tolerate anything less.

David A. Kyle Tellus




-4-
 Prologue

After the destruction of Onlo and the fall of Thrale and the "cleaning up" of Lyrane VIII,
with the Boskonians no longer fomenting trouble in the First Galaxy, the Galactic Patrol
was prepared to become a police force instead of a military machine. The Patrol's four
greatest operatives, the illustrious Second Stage Lensmen, were confronted with their
most difficult tasks-making adjustments to peace. Each one faced his problem in his own
way, representative as he was of his own distinctive race and culture. Kimball Kinnison,
the Tellurian, humankind's incredible hero, had little choice but to accept the responsibility
of being Galactic Coordinator. Nadreck, the Palainian, frigid-blooded poison-breather
with his metabolic extension into the fourth dimension, carried on his psychological
research and pursued his personal death feud against the escaped Kandron of Onlo.
Tregonsee, the hard-shelled Rigellian, profound meditator on the Cosmos, "put away his
Grays" and explored the galaxies with his superior sense of perception, completely
committed to his "Project Quicksilver.”

The fourth Second Stage Lensman, Worsel, the Velantian, the biggest, smartest and
most ferocious of all the million Patrolmen, remained in heart and in soul-and on active
duty -a Gray Lensman.

Worsel was a frightening apparition to anyone who had never met a Velantian before. At
first glance he seemed grotesquely hideous, a nightmarish reptile, all fangs and claws.
The day he arrived at Pok, the Planetoid of Knowledge, to begin the most incredible of
his adventures, he frightened the old soldier-scientist assigned to meet him.