"Eric Frank Russel - Six Worlds Yonder" - читать интересную книгу автора (Russell Eric Frank)

modore, it's in bad taste. Some might think it seditious."
"Well, can you think up a better reason?"
"I don't have to. I'm sending you there to find out. The
Grand Council asked specifically that you be given this task.
They feel that if any unknown aliens have enough to put the
wind up one of our own scouts, then we must learn more
about them. And the sooner the better."
"There's nothing to show that they actually frightened Boy-
dell. If they had done so he'd have said more, much more. A
genuine first-class menace is the one thing that would make
him talk his head off."
"That's purely hypothetical," said Markham. "We don't
want guesses. We want facts."
"All right."
"Consider a few other facts," Markham added. "So far, no
other lifeform has been able to resist us. I don't see how any
can. Any creatures with an atom of sense soon see on which
side their bread is buttered - if they eat bread and like butter.
If we step in and provide the brains while they furnish the
labor, with mutual benefit to both parties, the aliens are soon
doing too well for themselves to complain. If a bunch of
Sirian Wimpots slave all day in our mines, then fly in their
own helicopters back to homes such as their forefathers never
owned, what have they got to cry about?"
"I fail to see the purpose of the lecture," said Leigh, dryly.
"I'm emphasizing that by force, ruthlessness, argument,
persuasion, precept and example, appeal to common sense,
or any other tactic appropriate to the circumstances, we can
master and exploit any lifeform in the cosmos. That's the
theory we've been using for a thousand years - and it works.
We've proved that it works. We've made it work. The first
time we let go of it and admit defeat, we're finished. We go
down and disappear along with all the other vanished
hordes." He swept his papers to one side. "A scout has ad-
mitted defeat. He must be a lunatic. But lunatics can create

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alarm. The Grand Council is alarmed."
"So I am required to seek soothing syrup?"
"Yes. See Parrish in the charting department. He'll give
you the coordinates of this Eterna dump." Standing up, he
offered a plump hand. "A smooth trip and a safe landing,
Commodore."
"Thanks."

The Thunderer hung in a balanced orbit while its officers
examined the new world floating below. This was Eterna,
second planet of a sun very much like Sol. Altogether there