"Gordon Eklund - Serving in Time" - читать интересную книгу автора (Eklund Gordon)

"Now look here," said Phineas, "do you ever stop lying for ten
seconds?"

Jan tried to look hurt. "I started to tell you the truth, sir, but
you wouldn't listen."

Phineas sighed and loosened his grip. "All right, I'm listening
now."

"Well, it's this book, sir, It's something you said to me last
time and has been preying on my mind ever since. I still can't
figure out how Jim's situation is any different from mine."

"Because, anytime you don't like it here, you can pack up and
go."

"Go where?"

"Anywhere you want."

"But there isn't anywhere to go, except other homesteads, and
you know they won't accept me unless I marry into the family,
and I'm not about to do thatтАФ not yet. So how can you say I'm
much different from a slave?"

"Because you are. Because you happen to be one of the freest
human beings who's ever lived. You may have voluntarily
surrendered certain past privileges in order to guaranteeтАФ"

"I never gave up anything. If it-happened, you did it for me."

"Oh, Jan." Phineas groaned aloud. "All right, you win."
Sighing, he released Jan and pointed to the ground. "Sit down. I
have a feeling this will take a while."

Jan had that same feeling, but he repressed an urge to laugh
triumphantly. Maybe Phineas knew what was up and maybe he
did not, but either way the results were the same:

No work for Jan.

Phineas proceeded cogently and carefully to explain to Jan the
theory underlying the establishment of the homesteads. The idea
was that by peopling the earth with self-sufficient communal
family farms and restricting all but the most necessary uses of
technology, it was possible to provide a free and equal and
livable environment for every man, woman, and child on the
globe.