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[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] He saluted again and said, Fifth Lyra Squadron, Birrel commanding, reporting, sir!" A look of grateful relief crossed Laney's face. He said uncertainly, At ease, Commander. Let me present you to Mr. John Charteris, chairman of the council of the United Worlds." Charteris was a gray, quiet, faintly anxious-looking man. He shook hands warmly, but his eyes were reserved, measuring. He began a little speech directed at the telecameras nearby. We welcome back one of the gallant squadrons of the galactic fleet to take part in our commemoration of..." When the speeches and handshaking and bandplaying were over, Birrel gave an order, and his men broke ranks. Brescnik came up to him and asked, Shall we debark our people now?" The old admiral told Birrel, Quarters are all ready for them near the port." Charteris added, But you and your wife, Commander, must be my guests. And as another man joined them, This is my secretary, Ross Mallinson." Mallinson was a tall and elegant young man of a type that Birrel did not like, the smooth diplomat type who always made him feel uncouth. Despite his smiling manner, Birrel got the feeling that he was tough and unfriendly. Charteris had a car and driver waiting, and they drove back between the lines of lofty, looming ships. The women and children and babies of the men of the Fifth started coming out of the transports, and Earth officers began deftly shuttling them into cars to take them to their quarters. From beyond a fence, the big crowd of Earth folk spectators watched interestedly. And of a sudden, for the first time his men's families seemed a little outlandish to Birrel. The women and children were of so many star-peoples, so many shades of skin, so many different ways of speech and dress. He thought he detected a supercilious amusement in Mallinson's conventional smile, and he resented it. At the transport he excused himself and went in to Lyllin's cabin. He stopped short when he saw her. He had never seen her like this. She wore an Earthstyle dress of impeccable lines, was perfect in a smart, sophisticated way. She still did not look like an Earthwoman, not with that skin and eyes and hair. But she looked stunning, and he said so. "I'm glad I look civilized enough for your people, Lyllin said sweetly. "My people? Birrel drew back stiffly. So you're still brooding on that foolishness? That's fine. I'm not in a tough enough spot here, my wife has to get super-sensitive and make it tougher." Lyllin's expression changed. What kind of spot? He was silent. She looked at him steadily, her eyes searching his face. It's something dangerous, isn't it?" "I'd have told you about it if it were something I could tell you, he said. You know that. Will you forget it? And forget about these people being my people!" He went out with her and Lyllin went through the introductions, cool and proud. He saw admiration in Mallinson's eyes, but that did not make Birrel like the tall, young diplomat any better. Then he stepped aside from the group as Brescnik came up for orders. "Two-day leaves for one-third of the personnel, in rotation, Birrel said. I want duty kept up." Brescnik looked surprised, If you say so. But there'll be some grumbling." "Let them grumble. Check out any necessary refitting right away. Port facilities here can take care of that." Brescnik grunted. I've seen better facilities on fifth grade planets. Plenty old! But we'll make out." Charteris car swept them along a broad highway toward the east, the chairman explaining to Birrel that in this congested region cars were favored over flitters. While Mallinson chatted brightly with Lyllin, Charteris kept up a pleasant and wholly perfunctory conversation that gave Birrel little chance to look closely at the passing landscape. In these flying glimpses, Earth did not look too strange or different. It was a green world, but lots of E-type worlds were that, and many of them had blue skies and fleecy, white clouds like this one. The sun, setting now behind them, seemed changing its light from soft gold to reddish and the long rays struck across tracts of conventional plastic-and-metal houses such as one might see on any modern world. Then as they went on farther, Birrel sat up straight and stared ahead. In the blaze of sunset light there rose the most surprising city he had ever seen. It was overpowering and at the same time ridiculous. Its starkly vertical towers were unbelievably lofty. No one built in this huddled perpendicular fashion on any world he had ever visited. But he knew this city was old and he supposed that the outmoded style of building of centuries before had just kept going by momentum. After all, they could not suddenly tear the whole place down and start again from scratch. Nevertheless, when they were actually in the streets Birrel found himself oppressed by the overhanging loom of these grotesque structures. But Charteris big terrace apartment, high about the myriad lights that were coming out with twilight, was pleasant. The chairman, still talking polite formalities, showed him the great UW building that towered up a mile southward of them. "It stands on the site once occupied by the United Nations, said Chiarteris. It was a great day when the United Worlds building replaced that, almost a hundred and fifty years ago. People had achieved a peaceful Earth, now they would achieve a peaceful universe." Birrel glanced at the chairman sharply, but could detect no irony in his voice or in his quiet face. There was a formal dinner that night presided over by Charteris wife, who looked like a slightly weary but game veteran of many such dinners. There were roasts, and speeches, and much talk about the commemoration. Sector politics were unobtrusively avoided although there were two officials from Cepheus Sector and one from Leo, looking warily at him, but talking courteous nothings. Birrel fretted through it all. What was Solleremos doing while they sat babbling here? Were his two crack squadrons still poised out there? Ferdias had promised he would get warning if they moved, but would that warning come in time? [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] Darmowy hosting zapewnia PRV.PL |