Экспедиция с Глома | страница 13



- Он должен быть где-то поблизости, - сказал Пид >Джеру.
Together they tested every bush, tree, log and shrub in the vicinity.Они осмотрели каждый куст, каждое дерево в окрестности.
But none of them was Ilg.Ильга нигде не было.
Pid began to feel a cold panic run through him.Холодная волна паники захлестнула Пида:
What could have happened to the Radioman?"Что могло случиться с Радистом?"
"Perhaps he decided to go through the gate on his own," Ger suggested.- Быть может, он решил пройти за ворота самостоятельно? - предположил Джер.
Pid considered the possibility. It seemed unlikely.Пид обдумал эту возможность и счел ее невероятной.
Ilg had never shown much initiative.Ильг никогда не проявлял инициативы.
He had always been content to follow orders.Он всегда выполнял чужие приказы.
They waited. But midday came, and there was still no sign of Ilg.Наступил полдень, а Ильга все еще не было.
"We can't wait any longer," Pid said, and they started through the woods.- Больше ждать нельзя, - объявил Пид.
Pid wondered if Ilg had tried to get through the gates on his own. Those quiet types often concealed a foolhardy streak. But there was nothing to show that Ilg had been successful. He would have to assume that the Radioman was dead, or captured by the Men.Приходилось думать, что Радист погиб или захвачен в плен Людьми.
That left two of them to activate a Displacer. And still he didn't know what had happened to the other expeditions.Их оставалось двое.
At the edge of the woods, Ger turned himself into a facsimile of a Dog.На опушке леса Джер превратился в копию Собаки.
Pid inspected him carefully.Пид придирчиво оглядел его.
"A little less tail," he said.- Поменьше хвоста, - посоветовал он.
Ger shortened his tail.Джер укоротил хвост.
"More ears."- Побольше ушей.
Ger lengthened his ears.Джер удлинил уши.
"Now even them up."- Теперь подравняй их.
He inspected the finished product. As far as he could tell, Ger was perfect, from the tip of his tail to his wet, black nose.Насколько Пид мог судить, Джер стал совершенством от кончика хвоста до мокрого черного носа.
"Good luck," Pid said.- Желаю удачи, - сказал Пид.
"Thanks."- Благодарю.
Cautiously Ger moved out of the woods, walking in the lurching style of Dogs and Men.- Джер осторожно вышел из леса, передвигаясь дергающейся поступью Собак и Людей.
At the gate the guard called to him.У ворот его окликнул часовой.
Pid held his breath.Пид затаил дыхание.
Ger walked past the Man, ignoring him.