Out of the Silence (Sci-Fi Classic). Erle Cox

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СКАЧАТЬ table glowed with a yellow light across which strange characters in rows began to move. Occasionally with a touch of her hand, she halted them to make a note, but for an hour she sat, with her eyes intent on the disc–until suddenly the silence was broken by the clear note of a bell. In response to a swift movement of her hand, the colour of the disc changed from yellow to blue, and was again covered with moving characters. Eagerly she watched until, on the second sound of the bell, she shut off the light.

      Leaning back in her chair, a slow smile of amusement crossed her face as she looked over at the other table.

      "How long will it take you to discover the utmost capabilities of that fish's brain, Andax?" she asked.

      If the man heard, he gave no sign. The smile broke into a light laugh, and the woman turned slightly to a large screen beside her, beneath which, on its frame were several rows of light bulbs. Then she pulled over a small switch on the table.

      Then her clear voice rang through the room with a note of command.

      "General Call! By order of the High Council."

      As she spoke the bulbs along the frame began to glow until all responded but one. She watched the dull bulb impatiently and repeated more emphatically.

      "General Call! By order of the High Council." As she spoke the last bulb responded.

      As it did so her voice rang out again, "General Call, Earani, director of the central geophysical station reports on behalf of the Council. Polar observation stations announce steady and progressive deflection from terrestrial stability. Last observation, 2.33 a.m., shows variation of 2,000 feet. Vast fissures are growing over both polar ice caps. Estimated duration of life on the planet, 43 days. First audible indications of disruption detected at general Station No. 7 at midnight last night. Council orders that until further instructions all work on the planet will go forward as usual. No exceptions will be granted."

      "High Council Order No. 2. Volunteers are called to fill mortality wastage at polar stations at the probable rate of 100 per day. Volunteers will report at station No. 16 with full polar equipment. Order and report closes."

      As the lights on the frame faded the woman pulled over another switch and spoke sharply–"Special call Station 11." As she spoke the screen glowed and on it appeared the figure of a young man.

      "Name?" she demanded.

      "Bardon," came the answer.

      "Bardon the poet?"

      "Yes."

      "Explain 30 seconds' delay in answering a general call."

      "I was writing a poem."

      "You know the regulations, you are in charge of a station. You know the penalty?"

      "Yes!"

      "Report to your district executive committee at midday tomorrow. They will deal with you. I will send a relief."

      She switched off the light as she spoke and the figure vanished.

      From across the room came a cold ironical voice–"Flat dereliction of duty, Earani. You should have turned the ray on him."

      Earant laughed lightly. "If anyone deserves the ray it is the man or woman who put a poet in charge of a general call station. Besides, since we will all be dead in 43 days I see no object in official executions."

      "Still," Andax persisted, "the council's order said all work must go forward as usual."

      There was a touch of hauteur in her voice as she replied. "I exercise my official right of discretion. Anyone but one of your breed would know that one of Bardon's poems is worth the 43 days of life left to the planet."

      There was a contemptuous "Humph!" from the fish table.

      Earani laughed and imitated the "Humph!" perfectly. "If it comes to dereliction of duty, Andax, how is it that I find you in my department and not in your own?"

      "Those audible indications of disruption. Your department is insulated–mine is not."

      Earani left her table and walked quietly to the window where she sat looking over the landscape. "If I used my authority of the ray, does it occur to you, that you too, have made yourself liable to its application?"

      "As always, you are right," Andax answered without looking around. "Don't allow my feelings to violate your strict sense of duty."

      "Get back to your fish, Andax," she retorted. "You and it make a fine cold blooded pair."

      The grating voice came back. "I hold a theory that all of the ills that have beset humanity arise from a feminine influence that distracted the Creator when He was making the Universe."

      "Judging by what women have suffered from men ever since, I should not be surprised if you were right."

      "My fish has one charm, at any rate, that is denied your suffering sex."

      "Flatterer!" she laughed, "Don't be shy and spoil the compliment by leaving it incomplete."

      "The fish, dear lady, has the virtue of being inarticulate."

      Earant looked at the bent figure and said slowly and with conviction. "Somewhere in the world, my dear Andax, there must be a woman who does not realise the happiness she enjoys through your being a bachelor. You can see our world end with the comforting thought that you have made at least one woman happy."

      "Stars in heaven! How can a man work?" He stood up and walked over to her. Earani gazed out over the landscape disregarding his approach.

      Andax towered over her. "Listen Earani," he spoke abruptly and emphatically. "There are 43 days left. More than time for the operation and recovery."

      Without turning her head, Earani uttered a decisive "No."

      As she spoke Marnia entered the laboratory, without speaking to the others she seated herself at Earani's table and read through the notes that Earani had made.

      Andax took up the tale. "But the whole thing is so simple. It could be done tonight."

      She turned and looked up at him defiantly. "When you first asked me two years ago to allow you to graft one lobe of your precious brother's brain onto mine, I refused, I have refused twenty times since. Do you imagine with but 43 days left I would submit to such an infliction. I don't wish to end life with a mind like yours or your brother's."

      "You women!" he sniffed impatiently, "can't you see that what before was merely an experiment is now an imperative necessity."

      "I can see no imperative necessity to gratify your wish to convert me into a feminine semi-Andax," she said derisively.

      "Can't you realise that you will be chosen to occupy the third sphere?" he demanded.

      "I?" Earani stood abruptly, facing him with amazement.

      "Yes! You!" he retorted impatiently. "Since one of the three must be a woman, the Council is left with no option."

      "But," she exclaimed. "The selectors recommended Marnia to the High Council."

      Andax СКАЧАТЬ