"Edmond Hamilton - Pardon My Nerves" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hamilton Edmond)


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high-powered atomic engines. Since I don't Ordinarily I'd always enjoyed these
breathe, riding in open space doesn't bother jaunts by myself back and forth in the
me. System. But I couldn't now. I was too
When I was ready to depart Eek sensed worried about myself. A delicate
that I was leaving and clambered up onto instrument like my mind could stand only
my shoulder. I decided to take him with so much and I hoped I wouldnтАЩt have too
me. Since he didn't breathe either, neither much trouble setting things right on Dis.
space nor the poisonous moon wo uld affect To Eek, who crouched contentedly on
him. And it would break his heart to be left my shoulder and gnawed an odd scrap of
behind again. copper, I said, тАЬWe'll have to be patient
Simon Wright came gliding out of his with the Machs out there, Eek. They're not
laboratory when he heard me bidding Curt intelligent like your master. They're just
goodbye. simple automatic machines with only
тАЬAre you really going to let Grag go out elementary reaction-circuits.тАЭ
there alone ?тАЭ he asked Curt. It would be difficult, I knew, to set
тАЬSomeone has to look over things at Dis things aright if those mindless mechanicals
and Grag can do it easily,тАЭ Captain Future had somehow cracked up. But since they
answered. тАЬAnd I think itтАЩll get these ideas had an inherent obedience to humans built
out of his mind.тАЭ into their crude reaction-circuits their awe
Otho offered me a little satchel. тАЬIt has a of me would make it easier.
first-aid kit in it, Grag. In your condition тАЬIf weтАЩre just patient with the poor
you might need it.тАЭ stupid things they can be got back into
Suspiciously, I opened it. It contained a their proper work-routine again,тАЭ I said.
small atomic welder and some rivets. I It was well for me that I could not
promptly flung it at his head but he dodged foresee the terrible shock that my already
with that slithery swiftness of his. delicate mental condition was to receive
Curt came up to the airlock with me. when we reached Pluto's moon.
тАЬComplexes or no complexes, you look out
for yourself, Grag. You know we can't get
along without you.тАЭ
I was touched by his affectionate CHAPTER III
emotion. And I was glad that he obviously
The Machs
didn't fully realize my shakiness for he
would not have let me go if he had.
I went up through the lock to the surface
and soon had my long space-sled out of its

T
own hangar. Presently, standing at its HE fourth moon of Pluto, which is so
control-post with Eek perched comfortably small compared to the other three that
on my shoulder, I was zooming upward. I sometimes it isn't even counted, is
whipped around the Moon and laid my completely uninhabitable to ordinary
course for Pluto. humans. Its atmosphere contains a poison
There's something about travelling in a so virulent that the tiniest opening in a
space-ship, even the Comet, that gives me protective suit means instant death.
a slightly cramped feeling. It can't compare That is why, when rich deposits of
to zipping along in an open craft, with the actinium were discovered there, no attempt