greedy, I'd like to discuss the question of my payment first. The Federation's been paying you for 12 years. - I'd say you're lucky to get out with your life. - I wouldn't. I want Orac, my ship, and enough Feldon crystals to negotiate my way round the galaxy. You're getting a bargain, and you know it. Guards! Oh, well. I got blamed for one of their killings. Vila! - Come on, as fast as you can, they won't be long. - I realise that. - Right, I want you to get into cover and wait. - Out here, alone? - Belkov may double-cross us. - I should think that's highly likely. What do you expect me to do about it? - Mount a one-man rescue? - Something like that. They're after blood. My blood. - Tell them you've already given. - We need backup, Vila. I don't like it any more than you do, but without Scorpio, you're it. Now go. Avon. Come in, Avon. Avon, if you're up there, please answer. This is not fun anymore. You have achieved the new orbit with consummate skill, Master. Thank you, Slave. I'm releasing manual control. - Watch out for any deviation in the Orbiter. - Yes, Master. Well, that should keep Belkov guessing. Now let's see if we can do anything about getting those crystals. - Orac. - Yes, Avon? Tell me everything you know about Belkov's 197 computer. You suggested I spared you the technical details. Oh, don't sulk, Orac. I have a little more time now. The modifications are very extensive. It's inaccurate to call it a 197 anymore. It's really a sort of hybrid. For example, a whole section of its memory banks are from a PPC class unit. A pleasure planet computer. That means it plays games. The total effect is a system which responds in what I can only describe as an eccentric manner. What does that mean? A computer must, by definition, be logical. But it can also mirror the logic of its creator. - You mean it's an extension of his mind. - No, that is not what I mean. - His personality, then. - A better definition, but still not quite accurate. Would it know how the booby traps on the Orbiter are programmed? As yet, I don't have enough data to answer that question. If it knew, could you extract the information from it? Come on! That's a simple enough question. - There might be problems. - Why? You have extracted information from Federation computers before now. This is just a hodgepodge of three or four of them. You have already said that it is inferior to you. The difficulty is not technical. It's more one of attitude. (Exclaiming) - You mean the logic of its creator. - Exactly. Let me remind you of ancient Earth mythology. The Delphic Oracle would answer questions truthfully without giving a true answer. So what we need is not the right answer, but the right question. And in circumstances where any mistake would prove fatal. Do come in. Your guns are quite unnecessary, unless you have some urgent reason for killing me, that is. Oh, that's always a possibility. There are a lot of Federation troops about, as you might have noticed, and I did mention to Commissioner Sleer you might be dropping in. Well, that sounds like an urgent reason for killing you. Yes, but you see, if you did, Gambit is programmed to raise the alarm. Wouldn't help me, I know, but it would ensure that you were captured and executed. Look, I don't care if she gets the crystals or you do, I just want to get safely out of this place. - We're not keen on staying here, either. - Oh, really? Can you explain why your friend, Avon, has taken your ship out of orbit? - That's not true. - You couldn't raise him on the communicator. - Avon wouldn't run out on us. - I wish I had your faith in him. Still, whatever the reason, it calls for some slight change of plan. Are you still capable of piloting one of these Federation ships? - It's what I was trained for. - Good. - Gambit. - Yes, Belkov. Slow down. We'd like to know exactly what you're doing, so there ------------------------------ Читайте также: - текст До мозга костей на английском - текст Малыш и Карлсон на английском - текст Снегурочка на английском - текст Книга мастеров на английском - текст Лучшие друзья на английском |