"Harry Harrison - Galactic Dreams" - читать интересную книгу автора (Harrison Harry)

Davy was a good boy and, when he grew older, a good student in school. Even
after he began classes he kept teddy around and talked to him while he did his
homework.

"How much is seven and five, teddy?тАЭ

The furry toy bear rolled its eyes and clapped stubby paws. "Davy knows . . .
shouldn't ask teddy what Davy knows . . .тАЭ

"Sure I know - I just wanted to see if you did. The answer is thirteen.тАЭ

"Davy . . . the answer is twelve . . . you better study harder Davy . . .
that's what teddy says . . .тАЭ

"Fooled you!тАЭ Davy laughed. "Made you tell me the answer!тАЭ

He was finding ways to get around the robot controls, permanently fixed to
answer the question of a younger child. Teddies have the vocabulary and
outlook of the very young because their job must be done during the formative
years. Teddies teach diction and life history and morals and group adjustment
and vocabulary and grammar and all the other things that enable men to live
together as social animals. A teddy's job is done early in the most plastic
stages of a child's life. By the very nature of its task its conversation must
be simple and limited. But effective. By the time teddies are discarded as
childish toys their job is done.
By the time Davy became David and was eighteen years old, teddy had long since
been retired behind a row of books on a high shelf. He was an old friend who
had outgrown his useful days. But he was still a friend and certainly couldn't
be discarded. Not that David ever thought of it that way. Teddy was just teddy
and that was that. The nursery was now a study, his cot a bed and with his
birthday past David was packing because he was going away to the university.
He was sealing his bag when the phone bleeped and he saw his father's tiny
image on the screen.

"David . . .тАЭ

"What is it, Father?тАЭ

"Would you mind coming down to the library now. There is something rather
important.тАЭ

David squinted at the screen and noticed for the first time that his father's
face had a pinched, sick look. His heart gave a quick jump.

"I'll be right down!тАЭ

Dr. Eigg was there, arms crossed and sitting almost at attention. So was
Torrence, his father's oldest friend. Though no relation, David had always
called him Uncle Torrence. And his father was obviously ill at ease about