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

Who are you, stranger, to dare to intrude thus upon a conference of the Innermost Circle?”

“I am Enphilistor, a younger student, of the planet Arisia.” This name; too, was a symbol. Nor was the
young Arisian yet a Watchman, as he and so many of his fellows were so soon to become, for before
Eddore’s arrival Arisia had no need of Watchmen.

“I am not intruding, as you know. I have not touched any one of your minds; have not read any one of
your thoughts. I have been waiting for you to notice my presence, so that we could become acquainted
with each other. A surprising development, truly-we have thought for many cycles of time that we were
the only highly advanced life in this universe . . .”

“Be silent, worm, in the presence of the Masters. Land your ship and surrender, and your planet will be
allowed to serve us. Refuse, or even hesitate, and every individual of your race shall die.”

“Worm? Masters? Land my ship?” The young Arisian’s thought was pure curiosity, with no tinge of fear,
dismay, or awe. “Surrender? Serve you? I seem to be receiving your thought without ambiguity, but your
meaning is entirely . . .”

“Address me as ‘Your Supremacy’,” the All-Highest directed, coldly. “Land now or die now - this is
your last warning.”

“Your Supremacy? Certainly, if that is the customary form. But as to landing - and warning - and dying -
surely you do not think that I am present in the flesh? And can it be possible that you are actually so
aberrant as to believe that you can kill me - or even the youngest Arisian infant? What a peculiar - what
an extraordinary-psychology!”
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“Die, then, worm, if you must have it so!” the All-Highest snarled, and launched a mental bolt whose
energies were calculated to slay any living thing.

Enphilistor, however, parried the vicious attack without apparent effort. His manner did not change. He
did not strike back.

The Eddorian then drove in with an analyzing probe, only to be surprised again - the Arisian’s thought
could not be traced! And Enphilistor, while warding off the raging Eddorian, directed a quiet thought as
though he were addressing someone close by his side “Come in, please, one or more of the Elders: There
is a situation here which I am not qualified to handle.”

“We, the Elders of Arisia in fusion, are here.” A grave, deeply resonant pseudo- voice filled the
Eddorians’ minds; each perceived in three-dimensional fidelity an aged, white bearded human face. “You
of Eddore have been expected. The course of action which we must take has been determined long
since. You will forget this incident completely. For cycles upon cycles of time to come no Eddorian shall
know that we Arisians exist.”

Even before the thought was issued the fused Elders had gone quietly and smoothly to work. The
Eddorians forgot utterly the incident which had just happened.