"Harrison, Harry- The Stainless Steel Rat Sings the Blues" - читать интересную книгу автора (Harrison Harry)

"Everything I suppose. We do not practice censorship. We transmit all the usual
TV entertainment channels as well as educational and news services. They are
well supplied with television receivers and can watch reruns of all the most
loathsome programs and series. The theory being if we can stun their minds with
televised crap they won't get up to more trouble."
"Does it work?"
"Possibly. But we do know that they are rated on top of the galactic viewing
scale for uninterrupted hours in front of the gogglebox."
"You go there and take surveys?"
"Don't be stupid. Recorders are sealed into the chassis of each set. These can
be tapped by satellite."
"So what we have here is a planet of murderous, belligerent, nutsy TV fans?"
"That's about the size of it."
I jumped to my feet, spilling dry crumbs of dead sandwiches onto the carpet.
Raised my fists, and my voice, on high.
"That's it!"
Benbow blinked at me rapidly and scowled.
"What's it?"
"The answer. It is just the glimmering of an idea now-but I know that it will
grow and expand into something incredible. I'm going to sleep on it and when I
awake I will polish it and perfect it and describe it to you in detail."
"What is it?"
"Don't be greedy. All in good time."
CHAPTER 4
The automated kitchen produced another stale sandwich, the machine was
half-knackered and out of adjustment, along with a lukewarm cup of watery cocoa.
I crunched and sipped gloomily, then found the bedroom down the hall.
Air-conditioned of course-but the window wasn't sealed. I opened it and sniffed
the cool night air. The moon was rising, to join the other three already up.
Made for some interesting shadows. A leg over the windowsill, a drop into the
garden-and I would be long gone before any alarm might go off.
And I would be dead in twenty-nine days. That little drink I had drunk in prison
really concentrated my attention and guaranteed my loyalty. But could I pull
this complicated operation off in that space of time?
Considering the consequences I had no choice. I sighed tremulously, closed the
window and went to bed. It had been a very, very long day.
In the morning I had picked the lock on the control panel in the kitchen and was
busy rewiring it when Admiral Benbow came in.
"May I inquire politely just what the hell you are doing?"
"Obviously trying to get this crook device to produce something other than stale
cheese sandwiches. There!"
I slammed the panel shut and punched in a command. A cup of steaming coffee
instantly appeared. Followed by a porcuswinewich, steaming and juicy. The
Admiral nodded.
"I'll take this one-get another for yourself. Now tell me your plan."
I did. Mumbling through mouthfuls of breakfast.
"We are going to spend some credits out of the mountains of money that we have
access to. First we plant some news items. I want interviews, reviews, gossip
and more-all about the new pop group that is the hit of the galaxy."
He scowled and growled. "What pop group? What in hades are you talking about?"