"Mack Reynolds - Planetary Agent X" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reynolds Mack)

myself.”


In the rocket, Ronny had time to appraise her at greater
length. She was a delicately pretty thing, although her expression
was inclined to the over-serious. There was only a touch of the
Mongolian fold at the corner of her eyes. On her it looked
unusually good. Her complexion was that which only the blend of
Chinese and Caucasian can give. Her figure, thanks to her
European blood, was fuller than Eastern Asia usually boasts; tiny,
but full.
 Let’s admit it, he decided. My assistant is the cutest trick this side of
a Tri-D movie queen, and we’re going to be thrown in the closest of
juxtaposition for an indefinite time. This comes under the head of work?
He said, “Look here, Tog, you were with Sid Jakes longer than
I was. What’s the full story?”
She folded her slim hands in her lap, looking like a schoolgirl
about to recite. “Do you know anything about the socio-economic
system on New Delos?”
“Well, no,” he admitted.
She said severely, “I’d think that they would have given you
more background before an assignment of this type.”
Ronny said impatiently, “In the past three months I’ve been
filled in on the economic systems, the religious beliefs, the political
forms, of a thousand planets. I just happened to miss New Delos.”

Her mouth expressed disapproval by tucking down on the
sides, which was all very attractive but also irritating. She said,
“There are two thousand, four hundred and thirty-six member
planets in the UP—I’d think an agent of Section G would be up on
the basic situation on each.”
He had her there. He said snidely, “Hate to contradict you,
Tog, but the number is two thousand, four hundred and
thirty-four.”
“Then,” she nodded agreeably, “membership has changed
since this morning when Menalaus and Aldeberan Three were
admitted. Have two planets dropped out?”
“Look,” he said, “let’s stop bickering. What’s the word on
New Delos?”
“Did you ever read Frazer’s Golden Bough?” she asked.
“No.”
 “You should. At any rate, New Delos is a theocracy. A
priesthood elite rules it. A God-King, who is immortal, holds
absolute authority. The strongest of superstition, plus an efficient
inquisition, keeps the people under control.”
“Sounds terrible,” Ronny growled.
“Why? Possibly the government is extremely efficient and
under it the planet progressing at a rate in advance of UP
averages.”
He stared at her in surprise.