"Murray Leinster - Talents,Incorporated" - читать интересную книгу автора (Leinster Murray)

startlingly pretty girl followed. They advanced to the door
of the Ministry.
Presently, Captain Bors received the two visitors. His
once-jaunty uniform looked like a dustman's. He was
much more grim than anybody his age should ever be.
"Your name is Morgan," he said formidably to the stout
man. "You have a letter for the Minister. He's not here.
He's gathering up his family. If anyone's in charge, I am."
The stout man cheerfully handed over a very official
envelope.
Bors said caustically, "I don't ask you to sit down because
everything's covered with ash-dust. Excuse me."
He tore open the envelope and read its contents. His
impatience increased.
"In normal times," he said, "I'm sure this would be most
interesting. But these are not normal times. I'm afraid--"
"I know! I know!" said the stout man exuberantly. "If times
were normal I wouldn't be here! I'm president and
executive director of Talents, Incorporated. From that letter
you'll see that we've done very remarkable things for
different governments and businesses. I'd like to talk to
someone with the authority to make a policy decision. I
want to show what we can do for you."
"It's too late to do anything for us," said Bors. "Much too
late. We expect the Mekinese fleet at any instant. You'd
better go back to the spaceport and take off in your yacht.
They're going to take over this planet after a slight tumult
we expect to arrange. You won't want to be here when
they come."
Morgan waved a hand negligently.
"They won't arrive for four days," he said confidently.
"That's Talents, Incorporated information. You can depend
on it! There's plenty of time to prepare before they get
here!" He smiled, as if at a joke.
Young Captain Bors was not impressed. He and all the
other officers of the Kandarian defense forces had
searched desperately for something that could be done to
avert the catastrophe before them. They'd failed to find
even the promise of a hope. He couldn't be encouraged by
the confidence of a total stranger,--and a civilian to boot.
He'd taken refuge in anger.
The pretty girl said suddenly, "Captain, at least we can
reassure you on one thing. Your government chartered
four big liners to remove government officials and citizens
who'll be on the Mekinese black list. You're worried for fear
they won't get here in time. But my father--"
The stout man looked at his watch.
"Ah, yes! You don't want the fleet cluttered up with
civilians when it takes to space! I'm happy to tell you it
won't be. The first of your four liners will break out of