10 (110)
chip 5
921 14 (5)
Hobbit (3)
ÂŚmiertelne sny
skarb (4)
index (686)
AD&D The Complete Ninja's Handbook
400 25
pancernik (5)
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.Am I to continue that? I, an Admiral of the Navy?"How long before the machine rusts? At present, it is a drain on the Treasury and returns nothing.Its officers long for dominion, its men for loot.All Kalgan desires the return of Empire and glory.Are you capable of understanding that?""These are but words that you use, but I grasp your meaning.Dominion, loot, glory – pleasant when they are obtained, but the process of obtaining them is often risky and always unpleasant.The first fine flush may not last.And in all history, it has never been wise to attack the Foundation.Even the Mule would have been wiser to refrain–"There were tears in the Lady Callia's blue, empty eyes.Of late, Poochie scarcely saw her, and now, when he had promised the evening to her, this horrible, thin, gray man, who always looked through her rather than at her, had forced his way in.And Poochie let him.She dared not say anything; was frightened even of the sob that forced its way out.But Stettin was speaking now in the voice she hated, hard and Impatient.He was saying: "You're a slave to the far past.The Foundation is greater in volume and population, but they are loosely knit and will fall apart at a blow.What holds them together these days is merely inertia; an inertia I am strong enough to smash.You are hypnotized by the old days when only the Foundation had atomic power.They were able to dodge the last hammer blows of the dying Empire and then faced only the unbrained anarchy of the warlords who would counter the Foundation's atomic vessels only with hulks and relics."But the Mule, my dear Meirus, has changed that.He spread the knowledge, that the Foundation had hoarded to itself, through half the Galaxy and the monopoly in science is gone forever.We can match them.""And the Second Foundation?" questioned Meirus, coolly."And the Second Foundation?" repeated Stettin as coolly."Do you know its intentions? It took ten years to stop the Mule, if, indeed, it was the factor, which some doubt.Are you unaware that a good many of the Foundation's psychologists and sociologists are of the opinion that the Seldon Plan has been completely disrupted since the days of the Mule? If the Plan has gone, then a vacuum exists which I may fill as well as the next man.""Our knowledge of these matters is not great enough to warrant the gamble.""Our knowledge, perhaps, but we have a Foundation visitor on the planet.Did you know that? A Homir Munn – who, I understand, has written articles on the Mule, and has expressed exactly that opinion, that the Seldon Plan no longer exists."The First Minister nodded, "I have heard of him, or at least of his writings.What does he desire?""He asks permission to enter the Mule's palace.""Indeed? It would be wise to refuse.It is never advisable to disturb the superstitions with which a planet is held.""I will consider that – and we will speak again."Meirus bowed himself out.Lady Callia said tearfully, "Are you angry with me, Poochie?" Stettin turned on her savagely."Have I not told you before never to call me by that ridiculous name in the presence of others?""You used to like it.""Well, I don't any more, and it is not to happen again."He stared at her darkly.It was a mystery to him that he tolerated her these days.She was a soft, empty-headed thing, comfortable to the touch, with a pliable affection that was a convenient facet to a hard life.Yet, even that affection was becoming wearisome.She dreamed of marriage, of being First Lady.Ridiculous!She was all very well when he had been an admiral only – but now as First Citizen and future conqueror, he needed more.He needed heirs who could unite his future dominions, something the Mule had never had, which was why his Empire did not survive his strange nonhuman life.He, Stettin, needed someone of the great historic families of the Foundation with whom he could fuse dynasties.He wondered testily why he did not rid himself of Callia now.It would be no trouble.She would whine a bit– He dismissed the thought.She had her points, occasionally.Callia was cheering up now.The influence of Graybeard was gone and her Poochie's granite face was softening now.She lifted herself in a single, fluid motion and melted toward him."You're not going to scold me, are you?""No." He patted her absently."Now just sit quietly for a while, will you? I want to think [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ]
