"James E. Gunn - The Listeners" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gunn James E)

are really tight and some cuts look inevitable. In fact, he says there's a
possibility the Project might be scrubbed."
Lily glanced at him. "Not a chance," MacDonald said confidently.
"There's a few applications for employment. Not as many as we used to
get. The letters from school children I answered myself. And there's the usual
nut letters from people who've been receiving messages from outer space, and
from one who's had a ride in a UFO. That's what he called it -- not a saucer
or anything. A feature writer wants to interview you and some others for an
article on the Project. I think he's with us. And another one who sounds as if
he wants to do an expose."
MacDonald listened patiently. Lily was a wonder. She could handle
everything in the office as well as he could. In fact, things might run
smoother if he were not around to take up her time.
"They've both sent some questions for you to answer. And Joe wants to
talk to you."
"Joe?"
"One of the janitors."
'"What does he want?" They couldn't afford to lose a janitor. Good
janitors were harder to find than astronomers, harder even than
electronicians.
"He says he has to talk to you, but I've heard from some of the
lunchroom staff that he's been complaining about getting messages on his -- on
his -- "
"Yes?"
"On his false teeth."
MacDonald sighed. "Pacify him somehow, will you, Lily? If I talk to him
we might lose a janitor."
"I'll do my best. And Mrs. MacDonald called. Said it wasn't important
and you needn't call back."
"Call her," MacDonald said. "And, Lily -- you're coming to the party
tomorrow night, aren't you?"
"What would I be doing at a party with all the brains?"
"We want you to come. Maria asked particularly. It isn't all shop talk,
you know. And there are never enough women. You might strike it off with one
of the young bachelors."
"At my age, Mr. MacDonald? You're just trying to get rid of me."
"Never."
"I'll get Mrs. MacDonald." Lily turned at the door. "I'll think about
the party."
MacDonald shuffled through the papers. Down at the bottom was the only
one he was interested in -- the computer analysis of last night's listening.
But he kept it there, on the bottom, as a reward for going through the others.
Ted was really worried. _Move over, Ted._ And then the writers. He supposed he
would have to work them in somehow. At least it was part of the fallout to
locating the Project in Puerto Rico. Nobody just dropped in. And the
questions. Two of them caught his attention.
_How did you come to be named Project Director?_ That was the friendly
one. _What are your qualifications to be Director?_ That was the other. How
would he answer them? Could he answer them at all?
Finally he reached the computer analysis, and it was just like those