"E. E. Doc Smith - Lensman 2 - First Lensman" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith E. E. Doc)

destroy Gharlane
of Eddore while he was energizing Gray Roger," a young Watchman, Eukonidor by
symbol, thought into the assembled mind. "May I take a moment of this idle time
in which
to spread my visualization, for enlargement and instruction?"
"You may, youth." The Elders of Arisia -- the mightiest intellects of that
tremendously powerful race -- fused their several minds into one mind and gave
approval. "That will be time well spent. Think on."

"Separated from the other Eddorians by inter-galactic distance as he then was,
Gharlane
could have been isolated and could have been destroyed," the youth pointed out,
as he
somewhat diffidently spread his visualization in the public mind. "Since it is
axiomatic that
his destruction would have weakened Eddore somewhat and to that extent would
have
helped us, it is evident that some greater advantage will accrue from allowing
him to live.
Some points are clear enough: that Gharlane and his fellows will believe that
the Arisian
fusion could not kill him, since it did not; that the Eddorians, contemptuous
of our powers
and thinking us vastly their inferiors, will not be driven to develop such
things as atomic-
energy-powered mechanical screens against third-level thought until such a time
as it will
be too late for even those devices to save their race from extinction; that they
will, in all
probability, never even suspect that the Galactic Patrol which is so soon to
come into
being will in fact be the prime operator in that extinction. It is not clear,
however, in view
of the above facts, why it has now become necessary for us to slay one Eddorian
upon
Eddore. Nor can I formulate or visualize with any clarity the techniques to be
employed in
the final wiping out of the race; I lack certain fundamental data concerning
events which
occurred and conditions which obtained many, many cycles before my birth. I am
unable
to believe that my perception and memory could have been so imperfect -- can it
be that
none of that basic data is, or ever has been available?"
"That, youth, is the fact. While your visualization of the future is of
course not as
detailed nor as accurate as it will be after more cycles of labor, your
background of
knowledge is as complete as that of any other of our number."
"I see." Eukonidor gave the mental equivalent of a nod of complete