"HEINLEIN, Robert A. - The Cat Who Walked Through Walls" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

"I'm glad you said that. I had hesitated to mention it but you are a bit on
the skinny side. Sharp comers. Bruises. Some padding would help."
I'll omit what Gwen said next. It was colorful, even lyrical, but (in my
opinion) unladylike. Not her true self, so we won't record it.
I answered, 'Truly, it's irrelevant. I admire you for your intelligence.
And your angelic spirit. Your beautiful soul. Let's not get physical."
Again I feel that I must censor.
"All right," I agreed. "If that's what you want. Get back into bed and
start thinking physical thoughts. I'll switch off the waffle iron."
Somewhat later I said, "Do you want a church wedding?"
"Coo! Should I wear white? Richard, are you a church member?"
"No."
"Neither am I. I don't think you and I really belong in churches."
"I agree. But just how do you want to get married? So far as I know there
isn't any other way to get married in the Golden Rule. Nothing in the Manager's
regulations. Legally the institution of marriage does not exist here."
"But, Richard, lots of people do get married."
"But how, dear? I realize they do but, if they don't do it through a
church, I don't know how they go about it. I've never had occasion to find out.
Do they go to Luna City? Or down dirtside? How?"
"Whatever way they wish. Hire a hall and get some VIP to tie the knot in
the presence of a crowd of guests, with music and a big reception afterwards...
or do it at home with just a few friends present. Or anything in between. It's
your choice, Richard."
"Huh uh, not mine. Yours. I simply agreed to go along. As for me, I find
that a woman is at her best if she is a bit tense through being unsure of her
status. Keeps her on her toes. Don't you agree? Hey! Stop that!"
"Then stop trying to get my goat. If you don't want to sing soprano at your
own wedding."
"You do that once more and there ainta gonna be no wedding. Dear one, what
sort of a wedding do you want?"
"Richard, I don't need a wedding ceremony, I don't need witnesses. I just
want to promise you everything a wife should promise."
"You're sure, Gwen? Aren't you being hasty?" Confound it, promises a woman
makes in bed should not be binding.
"I am not being hasty. I decided to marry you more than a year ago."
"You did? Well, I'll be- Hey' We met less than a year ago. At the Day One
Ball. July twentieth. I remember."
"True."
"Well?"
"'Well* what, dear? I decided to many you before we met. Do you have a
problem with that? I don't. I didn't."
"Mmm. I had better tell you some things. My past contains episodes I don't
boast about. Not exactly dishonest but somewhat shady. And Ames is not the name
I was bom with."
"Richard, I will be proud to be addressed as 'Mrs. Ames.* Or as... 'Mrs.
Campbell'... Colin."
I said nothing, loudly-then added, "What more do you know?"
She looked me firmly in the eye, did not smile. "All I need to know.
Colonel Colin Campbell, known as 'Killer' Campbell to his troops... and in the