JК
The Lovers :: Фармер Филип Хосе
Страница: 126 из 127Even with the tonsof explosives we set off, they could not damage too much a vessel built as solidly as the Gabriel. As a matter of fact, we did not wish to damage it, for we want to study it.
'But our calculations showed that the shock waves going through the metal plates of the ship would kill every man in the ship.'
Hal went to the window and looked out. Against the moon-bright sky was a pillar of smoke; soon, the entire city would be covered with it.
'You had better get your men aboard at once,' Hal said. 'If the explosion only knocked out the officers on the bridge, and they regain consciousness before you reach them, they will press a button that will trigger an H-bomb.
'This will blow everything up for miles around. Its explosion will make your powder charge seem a baby's breath. Far worse, it will release a deadly radioactivity that will kill millions more – if the winds go inland.'
Fobo turned pale, though he tried to smile.
'I imagine our soldiers are on board by now. But I'll phone them just to make sure.'
He returned after a minute. Now, he did not have to make an effort to smile.
'Everyone on board the Gabriel died instantly, including the personnel on the bridge. I've told the captain of the boarding party not to tamper with any mechanisms or controls.'
'You've thought of everything, haven't you?' Hal said.
Fobo shrugged, and he said, 'We are fairly peaceful. But, unlike you Terrans, we are really 'realists.' If we have to take action against vermin, we do our best to exterminate them. On this insect-ridden planet we have had a long history of battling killers.'
He looked at Macneff, who was on all fours, eyes glazed, shaking his head like a wounded bear.
Fobo said, 'I do not include you in the vermin, Hal. You are free to go where you want, do what you want.'
Hal sat down in a chair. He said, in a grief-husked voice, 'I think that all my life I've wanted just that. Freedom to go where I wanted, do what I wanted. But, now, what is there left for me? I have no one–'
'There is much for you, Hal,' said Fobo. Tears ran down his nose and collected at the end.
'You have your daughters to care for, to love. In a short time, they will be through with their feeding in the incubator – they survived the premature removal quite well – and will be beautiful babies. They will be yours as much as any human infants could be.
'After all, they look like you – in a modified feminine way, of course. Your genes are theirs.
'But our calculations showed that the shock waves going through the metal plates of the ship would kill every man in the ship.'
Hal went to the window and looked out. Against the moon-bright sky was a pillar of smoke; soon, the entire city would be covered with it.
'You had better get your men aboard at once,' Hal said. 'If the explosion only knocked out the officers on the bridge, and they regain consciousness before you reach them, they will press a button that will trigger an H-bomb.
'This will blow everything up for miles around. Its explosion will make your powder charge seem a baby's breath. Far worse, it will release a deadly radioactivity that will kill millions more – if the winds go inland.'
Fobo turned pale, though he tried to smile.
'I imagine our soldiers are on board by now. But I'll phone them just to make sure.'
He returned after a minute. Now, he did not have to make an effort to smile.
'Everyone on board the Gabriel died instantly, including the personnel on the bridge. I've told the captain of the boarding party not to tamper with any mechanisms or controls.'
'You've thought of everything, haven't you?' Hal said.
Fobo shrugged, and he said, 'We are fairly peaceful. But, unlike you Terrans, we are really 'realists.' If we have to take action against vermin, we do our best to exterminate them. On this insect-ridden planet we have had a long history of battling killers.'
He looked at Macneff, who was on all fours, eyes glazed, shaking his head like a wounded bear.
Fobo said, 'I do not include you in the vermin, Hal. You are free to go where you want, do what you want.'
Hal sat down in a chair. He said, in a grief-husked voice, 'I think that all my life I've wanted just that. Freedom to go where I wanted, do what I wanted. But, now, what is there left for me? I have no one–'
'There is much for you, Hal,' said Fobo. Tears ran down his nose and collected at the end.
'You have your daughters to care for, to love. In a short time, they will be through with their feeding in the incubator – they survived the premature removal quite well – and will be beautiful babies. They will be yours as much as any human infants could be.
'After all, they look like you – in a modified feminine way, of course. Your genes are theirs.