[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
overfond of
Earthpeople in the replay of the Vranix meeting."
"She has never trusted the Jevlenese," Calazar answered. "Her sentiments
apparently extend
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to include Terrans also. Maybe it's not surprising." After another silence he
commented, "Queeth is an interesting world, with an emergent intelligent race
spread across much of its surface. The
Jevlenese have cooperated in bringing many similar planets into our system in
the past. They seem to possess a natural aptitude for dealing with primitive
races in a way that would not come easily to Ganymeans. I'll show you an
example of what I mean. VISAR, let's have another view of the place
I was looking at earlier."
A solid image appeared above the open area in the center of the floor. It was
of a view looking down on a township in which blocks of hewn rock or baked
clay had been built into crude buildings of strangely curved designs. They
were huddled around the base of a larger and more imposing edifice of ramps
and col umns set at the top of an arrangement of broad flat steps ascending on
all of its six sides. As Garuth looked at the structure, it reminded him in a
vague way of the depictions of ancient temples that he had seen while he was
on Earth. The space at the foot of the steps on one side was densely packed
with figures.
"Queeth is not integrated into VISAR yet," Calazar informed them as they
watched.
"Therefore we can't go down there. The view is being captured under high
resolution from orbit and injected into your visual cortexes."
The view narrowed, and the magnification increased. The crowd consisted of
beings who were bipeds with two arms and a head, but the parts not covered by
their roughly cut clothes seemed to be formed from what looked like a pink,
glinting crystal rather than skin. Their heads were elongated vertically and
covered with reddish mats on top and behind, their limbs were long and
slender, and they moved with a flowing grace that Garuth found strangely
captivating.
What made his eyes open wider in surprise was the group of five figures posing
above the crowd at the top of the steps, standing motionless and erect in
flowing garments and high, elaborate headdresses. They seemed aloof and
disdainful. And then Garuth realized suddenly what the movements of the
slender, pink aliens meant. The movements were signaling supplication and
reverence
-- worship, aimost. The starship commander turned his head sharply to direct a
questioning look at Calazar.
"The Queeths think that the Jevlenese are gods," Calazar explained. "They come
down from the sky in magic vessels and work miracles. The Jevlenese have been
experimenting with the technique for some time as a means of pacifying
primitive races and instilling respect and trust in them before moving them
from barbarism toward civilization. Apparently they got the idea from
Earth-from their surveillance observations of long ago."
Shiohin seemed concerned. "Is it wise?" she asked. "How could a race hope to
advance toward rational methods and effective control of its environment if
its foundations are built on such unreason? We know what happened on Earth."
"I was wondering if you'd say something like that," Calazar said. "I myself
have been wondering the same thing. Perhaps, before these recent developments,
we have been altogether too trust --
ing of the Jevlenese." He nodded soberly. "I think we will see some big
changes in the not-
too-distant future."
Before either of the others could reply, VISAR informed them, "Frenua Showm
will join you now."
"We don't need the view anymore," Calazar said. The image of Oueeth vanished,
and a second or two later Showm was standing by Calazar.
"I don't like it," she said frankly. "The Terrans will want a confrontation
with the
Jevienese, and that would mean all kinds of problems. The whole situation is
complicated enough as it is."
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"But we did set the Jevienese up to handle the surveillance of Earth," Calazar
pointed out. "Why shouldn't we expect to accept the consequences?"
"We didn't set them up," Showm said. "They argued and pressed demands until
the Thurien administration of the time conceded. They practically took it
over." She shook her head apprehensively. "And the idea of the Terrans getting
involved in our investigations makes me nervous. I don't like the thought of
them gaining access to Thurien-level technology. Remember what happened to the
Lunarians. And look at what the Jevlenese have been doing since they acquired
their own version of VISAR. It's simply a fact with all their kind-if they get
their hands on advanced technology, they abuse it." She glanced at Garuth and
Shilohin and then looked back at
Calazar. "Our concern was for the Shapieron. It is~ now safely at Thurien. If
the rest were up to me alone, I'd break off contact with Earth now and leave
them out of it completely while we straighten out the situation with the
Jevlenese. We don't need Terrans. They've served their
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purpose."
"I must protest!" Garuth exclaimed. "We regard them as close friends. If it
hadn't been for their help, we would never have reached Thurien at all. We
cannot simply disregard them. It would be an insult to every Ganymean on the
Shapieron."
Before Calazar could reply, VISAR interrupted with another announcement.
"Excuse me again, but Porthik Eesyan is asking to join you. He says it's
urgent."
"Well, we're not going to resolve this in minutes," Calazar said. "Very well, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl fopke.keep.pl
overfond of
Earthpeople in the replay of the Vranix meeting."
"She has never trusted the Jevlenese," Calazar answered. "Her sentiments
apparently extend
file:///F|/rah/James%20P.%20Hogan/Hogan,%20James%20P%20-%20Giant's%20Star.txt
(61 of 137) [2/4/03 10:56:13 PM]
Page 81
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
file:///F|/rah/James%20P.%20Hogan/Hogan,%20James%20P%20-%20Giant's%20Star.txt
to include Terrans also. Maybe it's not surprising." After another silence he
commented, "Queeth is an interesting world, with an emergent intelligent race
spread across much of its surface. The
Jevlenese have cooperated in bringing many similar planets into our system in
the past. They seem to possess a natural aptitude for dealing with primitive
races in a way that would not come easily to Ganymeans. I'll show you an
example of what I mean. VISAR, let's have another view of the place
I was looking at earlier."
A solid image appeared above the open area in the center of the floor. It was
of a view looking down on a township in which blocks of hewn rock or baked
clay had been built into crude buildings of strangely curved designs. They
were huddled around the base of a larger and more imposing edifice of ramps
and col umns set at the top of an arrangement of broad flat steps ascending on
all of its six sides. As Garuth looked at the structure, it reminded him in a
vague way of the depictions of ancient temples that he had seen while he was
on Earth. The space at the foot of the steps on one side was densely packed
with figures.
"Queeth is not integrated into VISAR yet," Calazar informed them as they
watched.
"Therefore we can't go down there. The view is being captured under high
resolution from orbit and injected into your visual cortexes."
The view narrowed, and the magnification increased. The crowd consisted of
beings who were bipeds with two arms and a head, but the parts not covered by
their roughly cut clothes seemed to be formed from what looked like a pink,
glinting crystal rather than skin. Their heads were elongated vertically and
covered with reddish mats on top and behind, their limbs were long and
slender, and they moved with a flowing grace that Garuth found strangely
captivating.
What made his eyes open wider in surprise was the group of five figures posing
above the crowd at the top of the steps, standing motionless and erect in
flowing garments and high, elaborate headdresses. They seemed aloof and
disdainful. And then Garuth realized suddenly what the movements of the
slender, pink aliens meant. The movements were signaling supplication and
reverence
-- worship, aimost. The starship commander turned his head sharply to direct a
questioning look at Calazar.
"The Queeths think that the Jevlenese are gods," Calazar explained. "They come
down from the sky in magic vessels and work miracles. The Jevlenese have been
experimenting with the technique for some time as a means of pacifying
primitive races and instilling respect and trust in them before moving them
from barbarism toward civilization. Apparently they got the idea from
Earth-from their surveillance observations of long ago."
Shiohin seemed concerned. "Is it wise?" she asked. "How could a race hope to
advance toward rational methods and effective control of its environment if
its foundations are built on such unreason? We know what happened on Earth."
"I was wondering if you'd say something like that," Calazar said. "I myself
have been wondering the same thing. Perhaps, before these recent developments,
we have been altogether too trust --
ing of the Jevlenese." He nodded soberly. "I think we will see some big
changes in the not-
too-distant future."
Before either of the others could reply, VISAR informed them, "Frenua Showm
will join you now."
"We don't need the view anymore," Calazar said. The image of Oueeth vanished,
and a second or two later Showm was standing by Calazar.
"I don't like it," she said frankly. "The Terrans will want a confrontation
with the
Jevienese, and that would mean all kinds of problems. The whole situation is
complicated enough as it is."
Page 82
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"But we did set the Jevienese up to handle the surveillance of Earth," Calazar
pointed out. "Why shouldn't we expect to accept the consequences?"
"We didn't set them up," Showm said. "They argued and pressed demands until
the Thurien administration of the time conceded. They practically took it
over." She shook her head apprehensively. "And the idea of the Terrans getting
involved in our investigations makes me nervous. I don't like the thought of
them gaining access to Thurien-level technology. Remember what happened to the
Lunarians. And look at what the Jevlenese have been doing since they acquired
their own version of VISAR. It's simply a fact with all their kind-if they get
their hands on advanced technology, they abuse it." She glanced at Garuth and
Shilohin and then looked back at
Calazar. "Our concern was for the Shapieron. It is~ now safely at Thurien. If
the rest were up to me alone, I'd break off contact with Earth now and leave
them out of it completely while we straighten out the situation with the
Jevlenese. We don't need Terrans. They've served their
file:///F|/rah/James%20P.%20Hogan/Hogan,%20James%20P%20-%20Giant's%20Star.txt
(62 of 137) [2/4/03 10:56:13 PM]
file:///F|/rah/James%20P.%20Hogan/Hogan,%20James%20P%20-%20Giant's%20Star.txt
purpose."
"I must protest!" Garuth exclaimed. "We regard them as close friends. If it
hadn't been for their help, we would never have reached Thurien at all. We
cannot simply disregard them. It would be an insult to every Ganymean on the
Shapieron."
Before Calazar could reply, VISAR interrupted with another announcement.
"Excuse me again, but Porthik Eesyan is asking to join you. He says it's
urgent."
"Well, we're not going to resolve this in minutes," Calazar said. "Very well, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]