"Fredric Brown - The Weapon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Brown Fredric)

tor, wondering whether he had known about the boy. From
the lack of surprise on Niemand's face, Graham felt sure he
had known.
"Harry"Graham's voice was warm with affection
"Daddy's busy. Just for a little while. Go back to your room;
I'll come and read to you soon."
"Chicken Little'? You'll read me 'Chicken Little'?"
"Tf you wish. Now run along. Wait. Harry, this is Mr.
Niemand."
The boy smiled bashfully at the visitor. Niemand said,
"Hi, Harry," and smiled back at him, holding out his hand.
Graham, watching, was sure now that Niemand had known;
the smile and the gesture were for the boy's mental age,
not his physical one.
The boy took Niemand's hand. For a moment it seemed
that he was going to climb into Niemand's lap, and Graham
pulled him back gently. He said, "Go to your room now,
Harry."
The boy skipped back into his bedroom, not closing the
door.
Niemand's eyes met Graham's and he said, "I like him,"
with obvious sincerity. He added, "I hope that what you're
going to read to him will always be true."
Graham didn't understand. Niemand said, "'Chicken Lit-
tle,' I mean. It's a fine storybut may 'Chicken Little' always
be wrong about the sky falling down."
Graham suddenly had liked Niemand when Niemand
had shown liking for the boy. Now he remembered that he
must close the interview quickly. He rose, in dismissal. He
said, "I fear you're wasting your time and mine, Mr. Nie-
mand. I know all the arguments, everything you can say
I've heard a thousand times. Possibly there is truth in what
you believe, but it does not concern me. 1m a scientist, and
only a scientist. Yes, it is public knowledge that I am
working on a weapon, a rather ultimate one. But, for me per-
sonally, that is only a by-product of the fact that I am ad-
vancing science. I have thought it through, and I have
found that that is my only concern."
"But, Dr. Graham, is humanity ready for an ultimate
weapon?"
Graham frowned. "I have told you my point of view, Mr.
Niemand."
Niemand rose slowly from the chair. He said, "Very well,
if you do not choose to discuss it. III say no more." He
passed a hand across his forehead. "Ill leave. Dr. Graham.
I wonder, though . . . may I change my mind about the
drink you offered me?"
Graham's irritation faded. He said, "Certainly. Will
whisky and water do?"
"Admirably."