"A. E. Van Vogt - The Players of Null-A" - читать интересную книгу автора (Van Vogt A E)

in space had started shocked him. He shook his head to the suggestion that they would return for him in a 'few months'.
Too long by far. But the gathering awareness that he was cut off in an isolated sun system made him sharply attentive
to the rather complete account of the effort Crang had made to get in touch with him on Earth.
Janasen was responsible, of course. Gosseyn sighed with understanding. But what was the matter with the man, that
he had taken it upon himself to frustrate one individual whom he did not know? Personal dislike? Could be. Stranger
things had happened. But, on reflection, it seemed to Gosseyn that that was not the explanation.
 More thoughtfully, he played over what Crang had said about possible hidden players and his danger from them. It
was oddly convincing, and it directed his thought back to Janasen like a beacon.
The man was his starting point. Somebody had moved Janasen onto the 'board', perhaps only for a fleeting moment
of universe time, perhaps only for a fleeting purpose, a mere pawn in this great game--but pawns, also, were looked
after. Pawns came from somewhere and, when they were human, returned whence they came. There was probably no
time to waste.
Yet, even as he accepted the logic of that, another purpose grew in Gosseyn's mind. He considered a few of the
possibilities, then sat down at the apartment communicator, and made his call. When the roboperator asked him what
star he wanted, he said, 'Give me the highest official available at the head offices of the Galactic League.'
'Who shall I say is calling?'
Gosseyn gave his name, and then settled down to wait. His plan was simple. Neither Crang nor Patricia Hardie
would have been able to advise the League as to what had happened in the solar system. It was a chance that neither
could have taken without grave risks. But the League, or at least a tiny division of it, had exerted its weak influence in
an attempt to save Venus from Euro, and Patricia Hardie had stated that its permanent officials were interested in Null-
A from an educational viewpoint. Gosseyn could see many advantages in making the contact. The roboperator's voice
interrupted his thought:
'Madrisol, the secretary of the League, will speak to you.'
The words were scarcely uttered when a lean, intense face image grew onto the videoplate. The man seemed about
forty-five years old, and many passions were written on his face. His blue eyes darted over Gosseyn's face. At last,
apparently satisfied, Madrisol's lips moved in speech. There was a short delay, and then: 'Gilbert Gosseyn?'
The robot translator's tone had a query in it. If it was a reasonably exact representation of the original, then it was a
remarkable job. Who, the tone suggested, was Gilbert Gosseyn?
That was one point that Gosseyn didn't discuss in any kind of detail. He kept his account to events in the solar
system 'in which I have reason to believe the League has interested itself. Yet even as he was speaking he had a sense
of disappointment. He had expected a measure of Null-A appearance in the permanent secretary general of the League,
but this man's face showed him to be a thalamic type individual. Emotions would rule him. Most of his actions and
decisions would be reactions based upon emotional 'sets', and not upon Null-A cortical-thalamic processes.
He was describing the possibilities of using Venusians in the battle against Enro, when Madrisol interrupted both his
train of thought and his narrative.
'You're suggesting,' he said pointedly, that the League States establish transport communication with the solar
system, and permit trained Null-As to direct the League side of the war.'
Gosseyn bit his lip. He took it for granted that Venusians would achieve the highest positions in a short time, but
thalamic individuals mustn't be allowed to suspect that. Once the process started, they'd be surprised at the swiftness
with which men of Null-A, who had come originally from Earth, would attain the highest positions which they felt it
necessary to achieve.
Now, he mustered a bleak, humorless smile, and said, 'Naturally, Null-A men would be of assistance in a technical
capacity.'
Madrisol frowned. ‘It would be difficult,’ he said. The solar system is hemmed in by star systems dominated by the
Greatest Empire. If we attempted to break through, it might seem as if we attached some special importance to Venus,
in which case Enro might destroy your planets. However, I will take the matter up with the proper officials, and you
may be sure that what can be done will be. But now, if you please-------‘
It was dismissal. Gosseyn said quickly:
'Your excellency, surely some subtle, arrangement can be made. Small ships could slip through, and take a few
thousand of the most highly trained men out where they could be of assistance.'