Читать книгу To The Stars - Назар Валерьевич Валеев - Страница 7

Kane woke suddenly, not at once realizing he was not at home. The events of the past days whirled through his mind, once again leaving him astonished at everything that had happened. He stepped outside and saw that Maarv and John had not gone to bed at all. They were sitting in the gazebo, deep in conversation.

«Join us, son», John called out cheerfully. «We’ve just started breakfast, and we have plenty to discuss.» He sighed. «Not long ago, our star-born friend’s mysterious device began pulsing and flashing like a Christmas tree. Maarv tinkered with it a bit, and came to a conclusion one not at all encouraging for any of us.»

«The Genemode is a highly dangerous virus of intellectual selection», Maarv said, his brow furrowing as he turned the small device over in his hands. «My people have released it upon your planet.» He hesitated, his golden eyes darkening. «It has been used only a handful of times in my memory… but never has anyone studied how quickly it might act in your atmosphere.»

He set the device down on the table and folded his long fingers together, as though to steady himself. «Its consequences are almost always the same and invariably grim. Not all of us believe we have the right to use it, but some of our leaders hide behind «security concerns» and other such nonsense, seeking only their own advantage.»

A faint sigh escaped him. «As far as I know, the virus works in stages, with intervals ranging from weeks to months. In the first stage, it eliminates all mature human subjects carrying active level-two mental pathogens. In the second, it destroys all those whose intellectual level falls below Class C. And then, after some further time…» Maarv’s voice trailed off. His gaze fixed on nothing, as though he could already see the shadow of what came next. For a long moment he remained silent, his golden eyes reflecting a dread too heavy to be put into words.

«I’ll spell it out, son – after all, we’ve been talking all night, haven’t we?» John brightened despite his weary face. «In the first stage of this strange virus, roughly and speaking very broadly, all the criminals, chronic drunks, addicts – and, God willing, the corrupt, inhuman politicians will die off. Experience shows there are no fewer criminals among them; in short, all the refuse of society. And to be honest, I wouldn’t waste a heartbeat mourning their loss.

But in the second stage – and beyond – arise some excellent chances for the rest of us to depart this world altogether!» He gave a dry, almost scholarly chuckle, as though making a grim joke at his own expense. «Maarv isn’t certain how our atmosphere might affect the virus, whether it will hasten it or slow it, but with the current intellectual codings, that Class C threshold will almost certainly prove beyond our reach, as it has on every other world before. And after that… well, let us hope we never learn what comes next.»

He glanced at Maarv, his expression softening. «As a scientist, he carries the weight of guilt for what his people have unleashed, and he’s proposing a plan – one he’ll explain to you himself.»

«If we don’t take action and stop the Genemode, it could wipe out all of humanity within a few months – perhaps even sooner. At my own risk, I contacted my ship and received the necessary coordinates. I want to ask you, Kane and John», Maarv went on, visibly troubled, «can I count on your help? My colleagues believe that the presence of native representatives of the planet in our group may be the key element for the mission’s success.

However, I must warn you: what we’re about to do may be deadly dangerous, and our chances of success are extremely slim. Still», he added with a flicker of wry honesty, «you don’t have much of a choice, but there is a chance to see many new things.»

Kane pinched himself hard – was he really awake, or was this just another dream? Could it be that he was about to experience all this, even see it with his own eyes? He was not the kind of man who needed much persuading.

«What’s there to discuss, Maarv? Of course we’re in! Isn’t that right, John? This concerns us directly!» Kane turned to the old man, who immediately seemed to revive, almost looking younger.

«Well, we’ve nothing to lose», John replied, “except perhaps dropping dead a little earlier», he added philosophically. «At least it would be in good company and in an interesting setting! But tell me – how exactly does this Genemode work? How does it manifest itself?»

«There are usually no external signs», Maarv answered. «At each stage, the viral bacteria accumulate within potential carriers of the programmed discrepancies. If the concentration in the body becomes critical and when the mismatches are too many – the Genemode activates, altering the molecular structure of the organism and turning it into a vaporous state within fractions of a second.»

«That sounds rather horrifying», John muttered, shaken, casting a quick glance at Kane, who, grim with thought, looked no better.

Suddenly the bracelet on Maarv’s wrist glowed, and above it appeared a holographic projection of another alien. It was Draam, who said something in his own language before the image vanished as abruptly as it had come.

«We have to leave at once», said Maarv. «We’ve been detected by a hunter, and we are in great danger! Our time is running out.»

«Run to that building!» John exclaimed, pointing toward a low stone structure nestled in greenery and draped with moss. «There’s an entrance to a bunker inside – we can hide there and slip away underground!»

Set into the concrete wall was a massive round vault door. Kane, with some effort and Maarv’s help, managed to open it, and could not help but whistle in surprise. «Now that’s a door!»

John snorted. «Left over from the previous owner. The man was a paranoiac – with a capital P.»

They stepped inside and, with combined effort, swung the enormous, weighty door shut behind them, turning the wheel of the locking mechanism several times until it clanged into place. The sound echoed down the shaft like a warning bell, then was swallowed by silence.

Descending a sheer ladder into the depths, John pulled a heavy lever. Harsh electric light sputtered to life, chasing shadows along the walls. The air smelled faintly of rust and damp stone. Long corridors stretched away in several directions, lined with shelves of dusty boxes and containers, steel cabinets, and the closed doors of storerooms as though the place had been waiting, untouched, for decades.

«It’s actually rather cozy down here», John remarked proprietorially. «One could get used to it, strolling about with an air of importance. There are even a few transformers!»

Suddenly, something thundered above them; the walls shook, and plaster and dust rained from the ceiling.

«That’s a military biodrone», Maarv said, glancing at his bracelet. «Its targets usually don’t live long. Looks like it decided not to bother with precision – it’s clearing the entire perimeter. It’s fortunate your house stands apart from the other settlements.»

«Well, judging by the racket outside, that house is history already», John said with a wry smile. «Never mind, I’ll fix it later.»

Maarv listened intently. «The noise is fading, but I doubt that losing our trail will stop them from hunting us.»

«Then», Kane whispered nervously, «I suggest we postpone sightseeing and run for our lives. That tunnel over there looks perfect for the job.»

«Yes, not a bad idea», John agreed. «But we’d better grab some gear! Some of this is bound to come in handy.»

He turned down a side corridor into a small alcove, where he pulled two compact backpacks from a cabinet. «Here! Just the essentials!» he said loudly, strapping one on with surprising vigor and snapping the buckles into place.

Kane didn’t bother to check what was inside and followed suit. He had no doubt there was nothing superfluous in them, despite their bulk and weight. Well, well! Old John, indeed! ran through his mind. Who would have thought that behind that dignified exterior and noble gray hair lurked a dyed-in-the-wool adventurer, ready for the most unexpected situations?

They walked on for quite a while before reaching another massive round door, much like the one at the entrance, complete with a heavy turning lock mechanism. Beyond it, the tunnel narrowed, and they came upon a small concrete platform with a handcar and rails that disappeared into the darkness.

«Well then, I suggest the next part of our journey be made on iron wheels», John proposed.

«Excellent suggestion», Kane agreed. «I suspect if there are rails and this handcar, these tunnels might stretch on for quite a distance.»

«And what exactly are these… biodrones?» Kane asked. «And why are they so determined to destroy us?»

Maarv didn’t answer right away. His gaze dropped, and he hesitated, as if weighing how much truth to reveal. «A hunter biodrone is a military modification of a standard research drone. Think of it as an airborne cyborg-scout, designed for offensive or blocking ground operations. Small, but with formidable firepower and an organoid intelligence. They usually hunt alone – and now, from the looks of it, it is hunting me.

It seems the Warrior Caste decided to play it safe and prevent even the smallest threat to their far-reaching plans for your planet.» He drew a slow breath, his expression tightening with bitterness. «My colleagues warned me such an outcome was possible, but I never imagined it would happen so quickly. Which means, gentlemen», he added, his voice quieter now, though steady, «that I am a very dangerous companion for you, and you still have time to reconsider.»

Kane sniffed impatiently and shot the alien a pointed look. «Oh, come on, Maarv! Do you really think we’d abandon you, leave you to carry the burden for us and our interests? If anything, it’s we who should be begging you to take us along – without you, we don’t stand a chance at all!»

«Well then», Maarv replied with a smile, «I suspected you weren’t the timid sort, and I was right. If all Earthlings are like you, then woe to anyone who stands in your way!»

«There are probably better ones out there», John muttered, still a little disgruntled, «but at this point, you don’t have much of a choice. Although I must admit, I’m driven by fairly selfish motives as well. After all, this means we Earthlings might also step into space one day and become part of this boundless, unexplored universe. That’s worth any risk.

And the fact that you’re doing all this for us – selflessly, at great personal risk – should tell you that we’ll do the same for you.» He tapped his dimming flashlight against the wall, then added with a faint smile, «If only out of simple gratitude.»

Maarv took a moment to reflect on what he had just heard. To him, as a member of a race long established among the galactic realms, much of it seemed almost commonplace. Yet he was genuinely moved by such understanding and concern – he found himself liking these Earthlings more and more.

He gave a self-conscious little cough into his fist. «Well then, it is a pleasure to find not only kindred spirits but reliable friends as well. And, for what it’s worth, not every race is blessed with a hunger for knowledge and a yearning for the unknown.»

After only half an hour of fumbling, John managed to coax the handcar’s engine into life, and another half-hour later they rattled out of the tunnel onto the grounds of a long-abandoned railway station. The place was shrouded in silence. Rust streaked the steel beams, weeds pushed up between the cracked concrete slabs, and a lone, broken clock still clung to the wall, its hands frozen decades ago.