"Eric Frank Russell - Basic Right" - читать интересную книгу автора (Russell Eric Frank)

"No, sire. On the contrary, he appears to enjoy the prospect of his world being mastered."
"I am not at all surprised," commented Zalumar. "These Terrans arc philosophical to the point of
idiocy." His sharp eyes noted the other's face. "Why do you look so sour?"
"I don't like the attitude of these aliens, sire."
"Why not? It makes things easy for us. Or do you prefer to get everything the hard way?"
Lakin said nothing.
"Let us congratulate ourselves upon our good fortune," encouraged Zalumar, oozing oily
self-confidence. "Victory without battle comes far cheaper than one paid for in blood. A planet mastered
is worth infinitely more than a world destroyed."
Speaking up with sudden resolve, Lakin said, "According to the books we've found here, and
according to our own preliminary observations, these Terrans have a civilization only a couple of jumps
behind our own. They have short-range spaceships on regular runs to their outer planets. They've even
got that small colony we noticed on the system of their nearest star. All that has to be born of and
supported by a technology that cannot he the creation of imbeciles."
"I agree," chipped in Heisham, with the enthusiasm of an engineer. "I've been studying the details of
their ships. These Terrans are supposed to be about twenty thousand years younger than we—but
technically they're nothing like as far behind. Therefore they must—"
"Quiet!" roared Zalumar. He paused to let ensuing silence sink in, then continued in lower tones. "All
species are afflicted by what they consider to be virtues. We know that from our own firsthand
experience, don't we? The disease of goodness varies as between one life form and another. This
happens to be the first world we've discovered on which the prime virtue is obedience. They may have a
modicum of brains but they've all been brought up to respect their betters." He threw his listener a
sardonic glance. "And you, an experienced space-warrior, permit it to surprise you, allow it to worry
you. What is the matter with you, eh?"
"It is only that their submissive attitude runs contrary to my every instinct."
"Naturally, my dear Lakin, naturally. We submit to nobody. But surely it is self-evident that Terrans
are not Raidans, never have been, never will be."
"Quite right," approved Heisham.
Now under double-fire, Lakin subsided. But deep down within himself he wasn't satisfied. Within this
peculiar situation was something sadly and badly out of kilter, his sixth sense told him that.
The move was made next day. Ten ships rose from the barren land hearing with them the twenty
members of the I. S. P. Expedition. In due time they landed upon a great spaceport just beyond the
environs of a sprawling city which, Fox had assured, was as good a place as any in which to tell the
world of the fate that had come upon it from the stars.
Zalumar summoned Fox, said, "I do not go to native leaders. They come to me."
"Yes, sire."
"So you will fetch them. Take all your comrades with you so that if necessary they may confirm your
story." He eyed the other, his face hard. "With what we've got we do not need hostages. Any
treacherous attack upon us will immediately be answered a hundredfold without regard for age or sex.
Do you understand?"
"Yes, sire."
"Then get going. And you won't take all day about it if you're wise."
He strolled to the rim of the flagship's air lock door and watched the twenty make off across the hot
concrete, hurrying toward the city. They were still hairy-faced and wearing full polar kit under the blazing
sun. Four clean-shaven Terrans in neat, cool uniforms drove up and braked at the bottom of the ladder.
One got out of the car, shaded his eyes as he looked upward at the alien figure framed in the lock.
With total lack of amazement, this newcomer called, "You sent no beam warning of arrival. We've
had to divert two ships to another port. Carelessness like that makes accidents. Where are you from?"
"Do you really expect me to know your language and be familiar with your rules and regulations?"
asked Zalumar, interestedly.