Читать книгу The Science Fiction Anthology онлайн

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“This cost nothing except the standard initiation fee,” she told him. “You came by it honestly—through your music, nothing else. And you have more than a million and a half credits, Clarey—nearly ten times that, with more pouring in’ every day.”

She touched a boss on the side of her chair and white light hazed around them. “I think we’re close enough to Earth to get some of the high-power tri-dis,” she said, “although we can’t expect perfect reception.”

Blurrily, a show formed—a variety show. At first it seemed the same sort of thing that he remembered dimly, more interesting now because it had almost the character of novelty. Then an ornate young man appeared and it took deeper significance. He was carrying a musical instrument—refined, machined, carefully pitched. He played music on the ulerin while a trio sang insipid Terrestrial words. “Love Is a Guiding Star” they called it, but that didn’t matter. It was one of the tunes Clarey had taped.

She touched another boss. The blur reformed to a symphony orchestra, playing as background music to a soloist with another ulerin. “That’s your First Ulerin Concerto,” she said. “There are three more.”