Battlestar Galactica Glen A. Larson

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The right to be left alone. It's a right we humans have always tried to protect and preserve.But there's
always a chance someone will come along andspoil everything-"
He could see in the boy's questioning eyes that Boxey wasnot following this part of the discussion.
"So you kill them?" Boxey said.
"No. What it is, you try to establish, well, penalties,something that'll make spoiling others' way of life
unreward-ing."
"You kill them."
"Boxey, you've a way of reducing everything to verysimple terms."
"Well, I'm only a kid."
"Right. Sometimes I forget you're only six."
"Almost seven."
"Almost seven. I don't know, though. Maybe you're right.No matter how you slice it, what words you
use, in the endwe're talking about life and death. Life is precious. No onehas the right to tamper with
another's life, without the risk of forfeiting his own. Ah, I sound like one of the classes in wargames I used
to teach back at the academy-and I thinkgetting a bit deep for a boy your age."
"Why? You can die at any age, can't you?"
"Yes, Boxey, you can. Keep an eye on the readout, okay?"
"Sure. C'mon, Muffy, looka that."
Muffit Two barked and nuzzled closer to the boy.
Starbuck stood at the rim of the hill and stared down atthe evidence of genuine life forms that had been
registeringon the scanners. He called to Boomer, who was just climbingout of the landram.
"Boomer...."
"Yeah, what is it now?"
"You aren't going to believe this, Boomer."
"Feeling is believing. I just busted a finger on-"
"No, I meanreally... ."
Boomer looked down. His mouth fell open.
"I don't believe it!"
In contrast to the drab landscape around them, thecarnival of color and lightand glass in the meadow in
front ofthem was a dazzling spectacle. Surrounding glass-walledspherical buildings was a meticulously
landscaped garden ofgreenery and exotic plants. Waterfalls slipped gracefully between what seemed an
artistic arrangement of rocks.Sounds of laughter drifted upward. Songs were being playedand sung in the
distance. A few people, talking gaily, emergedfrom a building and began to chase each other, with
obviousamorous intentions, through the neatly sculptured gardenpaths.
Starbuck looked over at Boomer, who appeared just asconfused as he was.
"What is it?" Boomer asked.
"I don't know," said Starbuck. Drawing his sidearm, hestarted to make his way along the narrow
pathway thatzigzagged down the hill leading to the bizarre complex ofspherical buildings and lush
gardens.
"You sure you need that?" Boomer said, pointing toStarbuck's sidearm.
"Whenever I'm not sure, that's when I need it."
Nobody in the gardens seemed to notice the two men. Ifanything, the happy noises of celebration and
song grewlouder as they reached the garden. They stood at thebeginning of a path for a long time, just
watching the myriadcolors and shifting lights that kept changing the appearanceof the garden and the
buildings.
"It sure is pretty," Starbuck said, some awe in his voice. "And it sure sounds friendly."
Starbuck started town the path, Boomer following,staying close. As they came to a fork in the path, a
suddenscream made both of them jump. Starbuck whirled around,his sidearm pointed in the direction of
the scream.
A woman stood trembling in the center of the path. Herwide staring eyes only emphasized the look of
beauty in herface. Starbuck was impressed with her voluptuous figure,round in all the best places. She
wore a red gown that clung appropriately.
"Don't shoot!" she said. "What do you want?"
Starbuck, red-faced, glanced down at the weapon in hishand, made a show of putting it in its holster.
"I mean no harm," he said.
"I usually go on the assumption that men with guns justmight mean harm," the woman said.
"You're from Taura," Starbuck said.
"Yes," the woman said, obviously surprised at the shift intopic, "I'm a Taurus. How'd you know that?"
"The dialect. Always can tell. What are you doing here?"
"What am / doing here? What areyou doing here? Whyare Colonial Warriors sneaking around a resort
with theirweapons drawn? Everything here is perfectly legal."
Starbuck and Boomer, both just as bewildered as thewoman, exchanged mystified looks.
"Isn't it?" the woman said. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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