"Heinlein, Robert A - A Tenderfoot in Space - Original Version v1.0" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

The shouts of approval didnТt sit well with Alf. He answered sullenly, УWell, at least he has to follow the Scout LawЧevery Scout has to do that.Ф
УYes,Ф agreed the Scoutmaster soberly. УThe Scout Law is the essence of Scouting. If you donТt obey it, you arenТt a Scout, no matter how many merit badges you wear. Well, Charlie? Shall we examine Nixie in Scout Law?Ф
Charlie bit his lip. He was sorry that he hadnТt taken that badge off NixieТs collar. It was mighty nice that the fellows back home had voted Nixie into the troop...
but with this smart Aleck trying to make something of itЧWhy did there always have to be one in every troop who tried to take the fun Out of life?
He answered reluctantly, УAll right.Ф
УGive me the Handbook. Is Nixie trustworthy?Ф
УSure he is!Ф
УHow?Ф
УWell. . . he doesnТt get on furniture even if youТre not watching him. . . and he wonТt touch food unless heТs told to, and uh. . .У
УI think thatТs enough. Is he loyal?Ф
УHeТs loyal to me.Ф
УMmm. . . good enough. Helpful?Ф
УUh, there isnТt a whole lot he can do, I guess. He used to fetch newspapers inЧbut he canТt do that here. HeТll fetch anything you ask him to, if he understands what it is.,,
УFriendlyТЧwell, obviously. СCourteousТЧweТll pass him on that, seeing what he has put up with tonight. Kind?Ф - -
УHeТll let a baby try to pull his tail off, or step on his face, and never snap or growl. Uh, he did used to be kind of rough on cats, but I taught him better.Ф
УObedient?Ф
УWant to see?Ф Charlie put him through hand signal orders, ending with standing at attention and saluting. The applause made Nixie tremble but he held it until Charlie signalled УAt ease.Ф
УTake note of that, Alf,Ф Mr. QuТan said drily, Уnext time I have to speak to you twice. СCheerfulТЧwe can skip that; IТm sure his grin isnТt faked. СThriftyТЧwell, we can hardly expect him to have a savings account.Ф
УHe buries bones.Ф
УMmm, I suppose thatТs the canine equivalent. Brave?Ф
УI think he is. IТve seen him tackle a dog three times his sizeЧand chase it out of our yard, too, back homeЧ back Earthside.Ф
УClean?Ф
УSmell him. He had a bath just yesterday. And heТs perfectly housebroken.Ф
УAll that is left is СReverentТЧand I donТt intend to tr to discuss that with him. I rule that Nixie is at least a reverent as the rapscallions IТve heard cussing aroun4 here when they didnТt think I was listening. How abou it, boys? Does he pass?Ф
Nixie was voted into Troop Four in his tenderfoo status unanimously. . . Alfred Rheinhardt, Tenderfool abstaining.
After the meeting the troop treasurer buttOnhole Charlie. УYou want to pay your dues now, Chuck?Ф
УHuh? Oh, yeah, sureЧI brought some money.Ф
УGood.Ф The other Scout accepted payment. УHereТ~ your receipt.Ф
УJust mark it down in your book.Ф -
УTake it. No tickee, no washee. IТm nasty about itЧthatТs why they made me treasurer. Now about NixiЧYou pay? Or do I speak to him?Ф
The other boy was not smiling and Charlie could noi decide whether or not he was joking. He decided to pla) it just as soberly. УI settle for Nixie. You see, he doesnТt have pockets.Ф He dug down in his diminishing resources, managed to piece out enough to pay the small amount for Nixie. УHere.Ф
УThanks.Ф The treasurer handed back a shilling. УTenderfeet get by cheaper, under Troop by-laws. But every little bit helps. You know, when I took this job, the troop was in the hole. Now we got money in the bank.Ф
УI believe it!Ф Charlie agreed. He was secretly delighted at the transaction. Nixie was no longer an honorary Scout,Ф he was a ScoutЧhe kept the Law and his dues were paid.

NixieТs eligibility to take part in all troop doings wa~ fbi questioned until the first hike thereafter. Mr. QuТar looked troubled when Charlie showed up with him. УYou had better take Nixie home. WeТll wait for you.Ф
Charlie was upset. УBut, Mr. QuТan, I thoughtЧWell, Nixie always goes on hikes.Ф
УNo doubt, back Earthside. Charlie, IТm not being
arbitrary. I donТt want your dog to get hurt.Ф
УHe wonТt get hurt!- HeТs real smart.Ф
The Scoutmaster frowned. Hans Kuppenheimer spoke up. УI think Nixie could come along, Mr. QuТan.Ф
УEh?Ф - The Scoutmaster looked at Hans thoughtfully.
УYouТll have your hands full with Chuck, since itТs his first time out.Ф
Hans had a habit of saying nothing when he had nothing to say;- he did so now. Mr. QuТan persisted, УYouТd have to look out for them both, you know.Ф
Hans still kept quiet. УWell,Ф Mr. QuТan said doubtfully, УNixie is a member of the troop. If you can take care of himЧand Charlie, tooЧIТll let him come.Ф
УYes, sir.Ф
The- Scoutmaster turned away. Charlie whispered, УThanks, Hans. That was swell.Ф Hans said nothing.
Hans had surprised Charlie by his first reaction to Nixie the night Nixie had been taken into the troop. While other boys were clustering around making much of Nixie, Hans had stayed a wary distance away. Charlie had felt offended. Since he was assigned with Hans as a buddy team, Charlie decided to do something about it.
After the meeting he sought out Hans. УDonТt be in a hurry, Hans. I want you to get acquainted with Nixie.Ф
The country boy still avoided the dog. УDoes it bite?Ф
УHuh? Nixie? Of course not. Well, he would if you took a poke at me. -Not otherwise.Ф