Easy to Be a God by Robert J. Szmidt

Author:Robert J. Szmidt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: WordFire Press

“I’ll be brief,” the colonel said when Henryan reported to him, shortly after parting with Valdez. “I didn’t ask for you because you had a level-five security clearance. I could find a dozen better handymen than you onboard the ships stationed in this system, Sergeant. I need someone whom I can completely trust in the position of the intra-system communications coordinator. Someone like you, Darski, Prydewhite or whatever your name is.”

“Prydeinwraig,” Henryan prompted obligingly.

“Couldn’t you come up with something simpler? Either wheezing, or gabble.”

He silenced the sergeant, who started to open his mouth.

“Yes, I know what they called you at school. It just pisses me off—” He paused, swallowed hard, and began again, this time more calmly. “The point is that I must have a man here who will be absolutely obedient. Let us be clear: you enjoy the parole thanks to the Admiralty, but I can revoke it at any time. Very easily, with one move of my hand. And I’ll do it, if I have even the slightest suspicion of your disloyalty.”

“Don’t worry, sir. I’m not going to go back there.”

“That’s what I’m talking about.” Colonel Rutta relaxed a bit. “Did Valdez fill you in about the project?”

“Very superficially, sir. He said that you would explain everything.”

“Chicken,” Rutta snorted with contempt. “The situation is as follows. We have quite a few people onboard, mostly soldiers, who are doing everything to sabotage the mission of the scientific division. They got this crazy idea that they will save Suhurs, not allowing for the final phase of the Gurds’ campaign.”

He shook his head in disbelief. “Do you know what names they gave them when we showed up here?”

Henryan nodded.

“And now they’re playing gods to save these primitive, cruel creatures—”

“In a way, I can understand them,” Darski said.

“You can understand them?” The colonel didn’t hide his surprise. “Either my hearing is failing me, or you’ve just asked for the parole revocation.”

“I assure you, sir, that’s not what I meant.” Henryan felt shivers running down his spine. “I understand what drives them, but I don’t support their actions.”

“Implicit trust, Pry,” Colonel Rutta reminded him. “How can I trust someone who shows understanding for the people he should fight?”

“Of course you can, sir. They won’t talk me over to their side no matter how hard they try. I am fully aware what my other option is.”

“Is it really as bad as they say?” Rutta suddenly changed the subject.

“Even worse, sir.”

“Tread carefully then, Pry. Your task will be to block the actions of so-called Gods. The final battle’s going to start within a month. Until then, you have to ‘caulk’ the communications system so that not even one binary digit of unauthorized data could be sent without my knowledge. Let’s get this straight: from now on, no man has the right to interfere with the history of Beta. Understood?”

“Yes, sir.” Henryan stood ramrod straight. “And what about locating the other … Gods?”

“You still don’t understand, Sergeant!” The station’s commander groaned. “Do I speak some kind of a dead language?”

Darski shook his head in terror.

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