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Robert A. Heinlein - The Cat Who Walked Through Walls
Atec Февраль 29 2008 20:18:18
Книга только для ознакомления
. And the Circle is free to terminate you."
"Are you threatening me?"
"No." Lazarus glanced at his wrist. "You've stalled for four minutes
against the unanimous decision of the Circle. If you expect to comply with the
Circle's decision, you are running out of minutes."
"Oh, very well. Campbell, I am commanding officer of the armed forces of
the Time Corps-"
"Correction," Lazarus Long interrupted. "Sky Marshal Beaux is the chief of
staff of-"
"It's the same thing!"
"It is not the same thing and I knew exactly what I was doing when I set it
up that way. Colonel Campbell, the Time Corps sometimes intervenes in key
battles in history. Histories. The Corps' board of historians seeks to identify
cusps where judicious use of force might change history in fashions that we
believe, in our limited wisdom, would be better for the human race-and this
policy strongly affects and is affected by Task Adam Selene, I must add. If the
Circle closes on a recommendation by the historians, military action is mounted,
and a commander in chief for that operation is selected by the Circle."
Lazarus turned and looked directly at Beaux. "Sky Marshal Beaux is a highly
skilled military commander, perhaps the best in all history. He is usually
selected to command. But the Circle picks the commander of each task force. This
policy keeps ultimate power out of the hands of military commanders
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