"Blish, James - Beep" - читать интересную книгу автора (Blish James)

"A dangerous gamble. Captain."
"Perhaps. We'll soon see!" Weinbaum glared at the placid
face. "I'm forced to tell you that you're a free man, Mr.
Stevens. We've been unable to show that you came by your
information by any illegal method. You had classified facts
in your possession, but no classified documents, and it's
your privilege as a citizen to make guesses, no matter how
educated.
"But we'll catch up with you sooner or later. Had you
been reasonable, you might have found yourself in a very
good position with us, your income as assured as any political
income can be, and your person respected to the hilt. Now,
however, you're subject to censorshipyou have no idea
how humiliating that can be, but I'm going to see to it that
you find out. There'11 be no more newsbeats for Dana Lje,
or for anyone else. I want to see every word of copy that
you file with any client outside the bureau. Every word that
is of use to me will be used, and you'll be paid the statutory
one cent a word for itthe same rate that the FBI pays for
anonymous gossip. Everything I don't find useful will be
killed without clearance. Eventually we'll have the modifica-
tion of the Dirac that you're using, and when that happens,
you'll be so flat broke that a pancake with a harelip could
spit right over you."
Weinbaum paused for a moment, astonished at his own
fury.
Stevens's clarinetlike voice began to sound in the window-
less cavity. "Captain, I have no doubt that you can do this
to me, at least incompletely. But it will prove fruitless. I will
give you a prediction, at no charge. It is guaranteed, as are
all our predictions. It is this: You will never find that mod-
ification. Eventually, I will give it to you, on my own terms,
but you will never find it for yourself, nor will you force it
out of me. In the meantime, not a word of copy will be
filed with you; for, despite the fact that you are an arm of
the government, I can well afford to wait you out."
"Bluster," Weinbaum said.
"Fact. Yours is the blusterloud talk based on nothing
more than a hope. I, however, know whereof I speak. . . .
But let us conclude this discussion. It serves no purpose;
you will need to see my points made the hard way. Thank
you for giving me my freedom. We will talk again under
different circumstances onlet me see; ah, yes, on June 9
of the year 2091. That year is, I believe, almost upon us."
Stevens picked up his book again, nodding at Weinbaum,
his expression harmless and kindly, his hands showing the
marked tremor of paralysis agitans. Weinbaum moved help-
lessly to the door and flagged the turnkey. As the bars closed
behind him, Stevens's voice called out: "Oh, yes; and a
Happy New Year, Captain."