"Andre Norton - Dark Companion" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

Again I met his searching stare. "That bad, is it?" he asked quietly.

"Well, it depends upon what you term bad. The Committee has about decided it is a good thing on the
whole. They like it that off-world authority has stopped giving orders. The Free Trade party is looking
forward to independence and is trying to beam in a trader. Meanwhile, repairs go first for lab needs; the
rest of it slides. But no one, at least no one with a voice in Committee affairs, wants off-world control
back."

"Whois in charge?"

"The Committee—section heads—Corson, Ahren, Alsay, Vlasts—"

"Corson, Ahren, yes. Who is Alsay?"

"He's at Yetholme."

"And Watsill?"

"Drafted off-world. So was Praz—and Borntol. Most of the younger men went. And some of the big
brains—"

"Corfu?"

"He—well, he killed himself."

"What?" He was clearly startled. "I had a message—" Then he shook his head. "It was a long time
reaching me—out there. Why?"

"The official verdict was minor fatigue."

"And behind that verdict?"

"Rumor has it that he discovered something deadly. They wanted him to develop it. He wouldn't. They
pressured him, and he was afraid he might give in. So he made sure he would not. The Committee like
that rumor. They have made it their talking point against off-world control. They say that they will never
put weapons into anyone's hands again."

"They won't have the chance—into former hands, that is," Lugard replied dryly. "And they had better
give up their dreams of trade, too. The breakup is here and now, boy. Each world will have to make the
most of its own resources and be glad if someone else doesn't try to take them over—"

"But the war is over!"

Lugard shook his head. "The formal war, yes. But it tore the Confederation to bits. Law and order—we
won't see those come again in our time, not out there—" He motioned with one thin hand to the sky over
us. "No, not in our time, nor probably for generations to come. The lucky worlds with rich natural
resources will struggle along for a generation or two, trying hard to keep a grip on civilization. Others will
coast downhill fast. And there will be wolves tearing all around—"

"Wolves?"