"Davis, Jerry - Moon At Noon, The" - читать интересную книгу автора (Davis Jerry)

contained all the safe elements required by law for those who
would go out in public. As a bonus, this suit also contained an
emergency transponder that would radio for help if he should fall
down and break his leg or hip, as if that were possible. This was
not currently required by law, but Congress was in the process of
considering it.
A few joggers ran past, each wearing a safety suit, and a few
young couples lay under trees on blankets, groping each other's
suits in frustration. Mike carried his bundle far up the hill,
staying on the sidewalk, and at one point crossed the street
(safely, at a crosswalk), and headed away from the park.
Up a long, steep hill he hiked, up to the top where one of
the bigger skyscrapers in town stood, a black and polished bank
building called Haben Tower. Inside he went, face blank, eyes
straight ahead as he passed the security monitors. He walked
straight to the elevators and pushed a button and waited. He was
alone, he'd timed it right. Most people at this time were busy in
their offices, all their visitors and visitations having been
taken care of earlier that morning. The elevator arrived and he
alone stepped inside. He pushed the button for the top floor, and
stood stoically as the doors slid shut and the elevator began to
rise.
This is my civil disobedience, he told himself. I have a
right to do this. I have an obligation to do this. I've gone too
far to back down now.
Mike took deep breaths, conscious that his hands were
shaking.
The ride lasted a long time. It was a slow elevator. Fast
elevators were dangerous. Mike had plenty of time to open the pack
and pull out the rubber Ralph Nader mask. He pulled off his
helmet, put on the mask, and put the helmet back on. With the
helmet on, he was sure, no one would look twice at the mask.
There was a pastel tone from the elevator's speaker grill and
the doors slid open. Several executives in black and white safety
suits stepped in as he was stepping out. One gave him a startled
glance but said nothing, and Mike dared not look back as he walked
away from the elevator. Hopefully the man had doubted his own
eyes. Mike continued down the hall and around a corner to the
stair well. A security monitor was right there, electric eye
focused on him as he tried the door. It was unlocked, of course
--- it was a fire exit --- and he pushed it open and stepped
through. He walked up the one remaining flight of stairs and faced
the one remaining door at the top of the building. This one was
locked, as it was not safe beyond. Mike, fortunately, had a pass
key which he'd swiped from a janitor two weeks before. Within
seconds he was out in the sunshine on the roof, with all of Center
City in view.
Now he had to work fast, for there would be security guards
after him within the next few minutes. He opened the pack, pulled
out the aluminum and nylon contents, and then began removing his