"Gordon R. Dickson - Analog - The Far Call Part" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dickson Gordon R)

Varisov started off toward his own hotel suite.
The Pan-European's command of the language was fluent enough, but obviously required some
effort. Varisov turned and went to join the other two, answering in much more capable German.
"Thanks," he said. "That's a pleasant invitation, now that we're off duty for an hour or two." He
seated himself in one of the heavy, overstuffed green armchairs by a circular table of the lounge area, in
this particular hotel floor which had been set aside for the Deputy Ministers. "I believe we're free until the
American President's reception at eight?"
"I believe, nine p.m." said Arhi Ambedkar, the Indian Deputy Minister. "There has been some delay
in making the arrival of U.S. President Fanzone in time. The official hour of the reception remains, but we
are quietly informed to consider nine our hour of beginning."
It was immediately apparent that Ambedkar's German was as effortful as Guenther's Russian.
Varisov switched againтАФthis time to French.
"I didn't know that," he said.
"We just heard it," said Ambedkar in excellent French and obvious relief.
"Yes," said Guenther easily in French himself, "the pilot of the copter that will take us there was just
now telling us. What will you have, Sergei?"
"Cognac," said Varisov, "since we've ended up where we have."
The other two smiled. They are really old men, thought Varisov, studying the brown, round face
and the reddish, square one before him while Guenther spoke into the telephone grid on the table beside
him, and ordered. I spend most of my time dealing with old menтАФmen my ageтАФand I forget that
most of the world is younger. The world is run by old menтАФnecessarily, of course.
"It's a relief to sit back and relax," said Guenther, after the order was in. "By the way, I'm a little
surprised, I thought Fanzone would have showed up down here before this."
"He's somewhat above our class, of course," said Ambedkar.
"Politically, yes," said Guenther. The cognac was brought in by the young noncommissioned officer in
the U.S. Air Force that served the lounge; and the conversation hesitated until he was gone again.
"Politically, yes," said Guenther again. "The Chief Executive of a nation like this; and we only Deputy
Ministers for the Development of Space." He smiled. The others smiled. "We won't talk about political
antecedents, our ownтАФor his."
Varisov chuckled politely. But Ambedkar looked interested.
"There is, indeed, then," he asked, "some truth to this noise about underworld support having helped
him gain the Presidency of the U.S.?"
Guenther waved a large hand. "No, no. I hardly think so, really," he said. "Not that it's important.
They are all half-gangsters at heart, these Americans. But they never let that stand in the way of
business."
"You might say," agreed Varisov, sampling the cognac, which had been brought, sensibly, in a snifter
glass, "that the U.S. is such a fat dog it doesn't really mind a few fleas. It would feel lonesome without its
gangster element."
"But," said Ambedkar, "if gangsterism should be a factor in their political considerationsтАФparticularly
in regard to this international mission . . ."
"I think we can ignore anything so minor," said Guenther. "It's the obvious elements in Fanzone's
thinking that are worthy of concern. The private agreement was that he would not be here for the actual
launch, so as not to disturb the balance of unity at that time. Now, an accident makes him late for his
reception the night before. I merely wonder if another accident might not delay him here until the shuttle
actually takes off?"
"There would be repercussions," said Ambedkar.
"Of course," said Guenther. "But their impact would be lost in the general enthusiasm of the beginning
of the flight. We can't be sure he's 'staying until he does, by which time it'd be too late. We'd have an
accomplished fact to deal with."
"We could express our concern over the possibility of something like that happening, before it did,"