"Aleksandr Abramov, Sergei Abramov. Horsemen from Nowhere ("ВСАДНИКИ НИОТКУДА", англ.)" - читать интересную книгу автора

"I would like to know whether you are sure that the destroyed creatures
are definitely copies and not the people themselves? If the copies are
identical with the human beings, then who will prove to me that my pilot
Martin is indeed my pilot Martin and not his atomic model?"
The exchange was in English but many in the hall understood or
translated for their neighbours. Nobody smiled, the question was indeed
terrifying. Even Zernov seemed at a loss as he searched for an answer.
I pulled down Martin who had jumped up and said:
"I can assure you, Admiral, that I am indeed I, the photography man of
the expedition, Yuri Anokhin, and not a cloud-created model. When I shot the
film, my double retreated to the Sno-Cat as if hypnotized. You could see
that on the screen. He told me that somebody or something was forcing him to
return to the cabin. Apparently he was already prepared for elimination." I
watched the glistening spectacles of the Admiral and almost burst with
anger.
"That is possible," he said, "though it is not very convincing. I have
a question for Martin. Please stand up, Martin."
The pilot rose to his full two-metre height of a veteran basketball
player.
"Yes, sir. I wiped out the copy with my own two hands."
The Admiral smiled.
"Now suppose the copy finished you off?" He moved his lips a bit before
adding: "You attempted to shoot when you thought about the aggressive
intentions of the 'cloud', right?"
"Yes, I did, sir. Two bursts with tracer bullets."
"Any results?"
"No, sir, no results. Like a shot gun against an avalanche of snow."
"Now suppose you had a different weapon? Say a flame thrower or
napalm?"
"I do not know, sir."
"Would it have refused to clash?"
"I do not think so, sir."
"Sit down, Martin. Don't be offended, I am only trying to clarify some
of the details of Mr. Zernov's report that worry me. Thank you for your
explanations, gentlemen."
The persistence of the Admiral untied all tongues. Questions followed
one another as fast as they could be answered, like at a press conference.
"You said that ice masses are being transported into space. Do you mean the
atmosphere or outer space?"
"If it is into atmospheric space, I don't see the purpose. What is
there to do with ice in the atmosphere?"
"Will humanity allow for this mass-scale plundering of ice?"
"Does anyone need glaciers here on the earth?"
"What will happen to a continent freed from ice? Will the level of the
ocean rise?"
"Will the climate change?"
"Not all at once, comrades," Zernov implored rising his arms. "One at a
time. Into what space? I assume it is cosmic space. Glaciers are only needed
in the terrestrial atmosphere for glaciologists. Generally speaking, I
thought scientists were people with higher education. But judging from the