"E. E. Doc Smith - Lensman 1 - Triplanetary" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith E. E. Doc)

effectively upon that knowledge.

Any chance bit of information obtained by any Eddorian must be obliterated at once. It is to guard
against and to negate such accidental disclosures that our Watchmen have been trained.”

“But if all of our Civilizations go down . . .” Eukonidor began to protest.

“Study will show you, youth, that the general level of mind, and hence of strength, is rising,” the fused
Elders interrupted. “The trend is ever upward; each peak and valley being higher than its predecessor.
When the indicated level has been reached - the level at which the efficient use of the Lens will become
possible we will not only allow ourselves to become known to them; we will engage them at every
point.”

“One factor remains obscure.” A Thinker broke the ensuing silence. “In this visualization I do not
perceive anything to preclude the possibility that the Eddorians may at any time visualize us. Granted that
the Elders of long ago did not merely visualize the Eddorians, but perceived them in timespace surveys;
that they and subsequent Elders were able to maintain the status quo; and that the Eddorian way of
thought is essentially mechanistic, rather than philosophic, in nature. There is still a possibility that the
enemy may be able to deduce us by processes of logic alone. This thought is particularly disturbing to me
at the present time because a rigid statistical analysis of the occurrences upon those four planets shows
that they cannot possibly have been due to chance. With such an analysis as a starting point, a mind of
even moderate ability could visualize us practically in toto. I assume, however, that this possibility has
been taken into consideration, and suggest that the membership be informed.”

“The point is well taken. The possibility exists. While the probability is very great that such an analysis
will not be made until after we have declared ourselves, it is not a certainty. Immediately upon deducing
our existence, however, the Eddorians would begin to build against us, upon the four planets and
elsewhere. Since there is only one effective counter-structure possible, and since we Elders have long
been alert to detect the first indications of that particular activity, we know that the situation remains
unchanged. If it changes, we will call at once another full meeting of minds. Are there any other matters of
moment? . . . If not, this conference will dissolve.”

3. ATLANTIS Ariponides, recently elected Faros of Atlantis for his third five-year term, stood
at a window of his office atop the towering Farostery. His hands were clasped loosely behind his back.
He did not really see the tremendous expanse of quiet ocean, nor the bustling harbor, nor the metropolis
spread out so magnificently and so busily beneath him. He stood there, motionless, until a subtle vibration
warned him that visitors were approaching his door.

“Come in, gentlemen . . . Please be seated.” He sat down at one end of a table molded of transparent
plastic. “Psychologist Talmonides, Statesman Cleto, Minister Philamon, Minister Marxes and Officer
Artomenes, I have asked you to come here personally because I have every reason to believe that the
shielding of this room is proof against eavesdroppers; a thing which can no longer be said of our
supposedly private television channels. We must discuss, and if possible come to some decision
concerning, the state in which our nation now finds itself.

“Each of us knows within himself exactly what he is. Of our own powers, we cannot surely know each
others’ inward selves. The tools and techniques of psychology, however, are potent and exact; and
Talmonides, after exhaustive and rigor- ous examination of each one of us, has certified that no taint of
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