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

United Planets Charter?”
That was easy. Ronny recited, “Article One: The United Planets
organization shall take no steps to interfere with the internal political,
socio-economic, or religious institutions of its member planets. Article Two:
No member planet of United Planets shall interfere with the internal political,
socio-economic or religious institutions of any other member planet.” He
looked at the department head. “But what’s that got to do with the
fact that I was unfamiliar with even the existence of Monet?”
“Suppose one of the advanced planets, or even Earth itself,”
Metaxa growled, “openly discussed in magazines, on newscasts, or
wherever, the religious system of Monet. A howl would go up
among the liberals, the progressives, the do-gooders. And the howl
would be heard on the other advanced planets. Eventually, the
citizen in the street on Monet would hear about it and be affected.
And before you knew it, a howl would go up from Monet’s
government. Why? Because the other planets would be interfering
with her internal affairs, simply by discussing them.”
“So what you mean is,” Ronny said, “part of our job is to
keep information about Monet’s government and religion from
being discussed at all on other member planets.”
“That’s right,” Metaxa nodded. “And that’s just one of our
dirty little jobs. One of many. Section G, believe me, gets them all.
Which brings us to your first assignment.”
Ronny inched forward in his chair. “It takes me into space?”
“It takes you into space, all right,” Metaxa snorted. “At least it
will after a few months of indoctrination. I’m sending you out after
a legend, Ronny. You’re fresh, so possibly you’ll get some ideas
older men in the game haven’t thought of.”
“A legend?”
“I’m sending you to look for Tommy Paine. Some members
of the department don’t think he exists. I do.”
“Tommy Paine?”
“A pseudonym that somebody hung on him way back before
even my memory in this Section. Did you ever hear of Thomas
Paine in American history?”
“He wrote a pamphlet during the Revolutionary War, didn’t
he?”
Metaxa nodded. “Common Sense. But he was more than that.
He was born in England but went to America as a young man, and
his writings probably did as much as anything to put over the revolt
against the British. But that wasn’t enough. When that revolution
was successful he went back to England and tried to start one
there. The government almost caught him, but he escaped and got
to France, where he participated in the French Revolution.”
“He seemed to get around,” Ronny Bronston said.
“And so does this namesake of his. We’ve been trying to catch
up with him for some twenty years. How long before that he was
active, we have no way of knowing. It was some time before we
became aware of the fact that half the revolts, rebellions,
revolutions and such that occur in the United Planets have his dirty