"Bester, Alfred - Demolished Man, The" - читать интересную книгу автора (Bester Alfred)

Secretary: "He hasn't read your memo yet."
"May I point out, young woman, that unless I am used with maximum efficiency I
am wasted. The Blonn memo has been on Mr. Reich's desk for three days."
"Who the hell is Blonn?" Reich asked.
"First, the background, Mr. Reich: There are approximately one hundred thousand
(100,000) 3rd Class Espers in the Esper Guild. An Esper 3 can peep the conscious
level of a mind---can discover what a subject is thinking at the moment of
thought. A 3rd is the lowest class of telepath. Most of Monarch's security
positions are held by 3rds. We employ over five hundred..."
"He knows all this. Everybody does. Get to the point, long-wind!"
"Permit me, if I may, to arrive at the point in my own way. Next, there are
approximately ten thousand 2nd Class Espers in the Guild," the Personnel Chief
continued frostily. "They are experts like myself who can penetrate beneath the
conscious level of the mind to the preconscious. Most 2nds are in the
professional class... physicians, lawyers, engineers, educators, economists,
architects and so on."
"And you all cost a fortune," Reich growled.
"Why not? We have unique service to sell. Monarch appreciates the fact. Monarch
employs over one hundred 2nds at present."
"Will you get to the point?"
"Finally there are less than a thousand 1st Class Espers in the Guild. The 1sts
are capable of deep peeping, through the conscious and preconscious layers down
to the unconscious... the lowest levels of the mind. Primordial basic desires
and so forth. These, of course, hold premium positions. Education, specialized
medical service... analysts like Tate, Gart, @kins, Moselle... criminologists
like Lincoln Powell of the Psychotic Division... Political Analysts, State
Negotiators, Special Cabinet Advisors, and so on. Thus far Monarch Utilities has
never had occasion to hire a 1st."
"And?" Reich muttered.
"The occasion has arisen, Mr. Reich, and I believe Blonn may be available.
Briefly..."
"It says here."
"Briefly, Mr. Reich, Monarch is hiring so many Espers that I have suggested we
set up a special Esper Personnel Department, headed by a 1st like Blonn, to
devote itself exclusively to interviewing telepaths."
"He's wondering why you can't handle it."
"I have given you the background to explain why I cannot handle the job, Mr.
Reich. I am a 2nd Class Esper. I can telepath normal applicants rapidly and
efficiently, but I cannot handle other Espers with the same speed and economy.
All Espers are accustomed to using mind-blocks of varying effectiveness
depending on their rating. It would take me one hour per 3rd for an efficient
screening interview. It would take me three hours per 2nd. I could not possibly
peep through the mind-block of a 1st. We must hire a 1st like Blonn for this
work. The cost will be enormous, of course, but the necessity is urgent."
"What's so urgent?" Reich said.
"For heaven's sake! Don't give him that picture! That isn't diversion. It's
waving a red flag. He's sore enough now."
"I have my job to do, Madam." To Reich, the Chief said: "The fact is, sir, we
are not hiring the best Espers. The D'Courtney Cartel has been taking the cream
of the Espers away from us. Over and over again, through lack of proper