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with Russia. As I understand it, one of your predark Presidents publicly
acknowledged his intent to share the SDI technology with my country."
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Axler, James - Outlanders 02 - Destiny Run
"SDI?" repeated Grant quizzically.
"Strategic Defense Initiative," Brigid explained. "Colloquially known as the Star
Wars program. It was about the only aspect of the Totality Concept projects
which the general public ever heard anything about. The SDI program was part
of Mission Snowbird."
Sverdlovosk smiled thinly. "Precisely. And did I not ask you not to interrupt? In
any event the report filed by Major-Commissar Zimyanin regarding the gateway
unit he discovered beneath the Peredelinko dacha was my starting point.
Obviously it is still functional or you three would not be here. Poor Zimyanin.
He secured the place as best he could in those wild old days, and his reward was
to be shipped off to oversee a slave-labor camp in the Yukon. He knew too much
to keep around, I imagine."
Rising from his chair, Sverdlovosk paced over to the hearth, warming his hands
near the dancing flames. Kane glanced again at Lenya Ivornich. She met his gaze
unblinkingly. The eyes in her marble-smooth face were flint hard and flint cold.
Very quietly Sverdlovosk said, "So many wonders, so many scientific marvels
created by men. And in the end none of it mattered."
Sighing, he rubbed his hands together. "Through my investigations, I learned
other things. I came across mysterious references to the origin of the Totality
Concept technologies. It was something the Americans called the Archon
Directive. I didn't understand what it meant. Who were the Archons? What was
their Directive? What did it have to do with the Totality Concept? Very strange.
The Archon Directive."
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He let the words hang in the air for a moment, like the solemn echo of the clang
of a distant bell.
"Inasmuch as I had no idea of its meaning, I could not pursue it, given the
fragmentary nature of the intel I was working with. Later I found that another
gateway unit existed within China's former sphere of influence, out in the
southwestern Gobi. In order to find the installation, I saw to it that an old predark
military air base in Mongolia was reactivated. I went there and enlisted the aid of
the nomadic tribesmen, specifically the clan ruled by Boro Orolok. I promised
them food, medicines, weapons if they would search the Black Gobi for anything
unusual. After a few months Boro's search paid off. He found the underground
gateway "installation."
Sverdlovosk turned away from the fire. "As did you, Baptiste. You and your
companions knew it was already there, just like you knew about the one in
Peredelinko. However, I could not enter the installation. The sec door defied all
my attempts to breach it Just as well, I suppose. I am an old-fashioned fellow,
and the very notion of having my essence transmitted to a distant point like a
radio wave makes me incontinent."
"Forgive yet another interruption," declared Brigid, "but I never got around to
thanking you for allowing me to escape. I am grateful."
Sverdlovosk grinned, exposing yellowed teeth. "Interruption forgiven. However,
by the time I've finished my tale, you may feel that your gratitude is not only
premature, but misplaced."
Grant's body suddenly went taut, like a drawn bowstring. "That sounds like a
threat, Colonel."
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Axler, James - Outlanders 02 - Destiny Run
Sverdlovosk looked at him in wide-eyed wonder. "Really? I did not mean it to
sound so. Miscommunication, perhaps. My English is not perfect."
He joined them at the table, picked up the bottle and upended it, swallowing the
last few mouthfuls of vodka. He patted his stomach. "I am relaxed and perhaps a
little drunk. My belly is full of hot vodka, and my head swirls with ideas. I shall
continue with your kind permission."
Kane didn't bother to repress an exasperated sigh.
Sverdlovosk ignored him. "Where was I? Oh, yes. During the search for the
gateway, Boro's youngest son came across the ruins of Kharo-Khoto. The son's
name is or was Shykyr. He explored the place, since it loomed large in
Mongolian legend. He discovered an underground vault beneath the ruins. When
the discovery was reported back to me, I paid the tribe to begin excavations. I
hoped the vault was yet another Totality Concept installation, or at the very least
held relics of historical value. I had read of Kosloffs explorations, of course, so I
provided the necessary digging equipment and left the Mongols to their work. I
returned to Russia."
Sverdlovosk sat back down in the chair, his eyes flicking to each face. "Many
months passed. Progress reports became sporadic, then they finally ceased
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zanotowane.pldoc.pisz.plpdf.pisz.plkwiatpolny.htw.pl
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Dobre pomysły nie mają przeszłości, mają tylko przyszłość. Robert Mallet
De minimis - o najmniejszych rzeczach.
Dobroć jest ważniejsza niż mądrość, a uznanie tej prawdy to pierwszy krok do mądrości. Theodore Isaac Rubin
Dobro to tylko to, co szlachetne, zło to tylko to, co haniebne.
Dla człowieka nie tylko świat otaczający jest zagadką; jest on nią sam dla siebie. I z obu tajemnic bardziej dręczącą wydaje się ta druga. Antoni Kępiński (1918-1972)
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