"Heinlein, Robert A - The Man Who Sold the Moon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)
УYou could call it that.Ф
УWell, remember what happened to King MidasЧin the long run. Good day, gentlemen.Ф
Harriman had left Entenza; Strong joined him. Dixon stood staring at them, his face very thoughtful.
CHAPTER TWO
HARRIMANТS HOME had been built at the time when everyone who could was decentralizing and going underground. Above ground there was a perfect little Cape Cod cottageЧthe clapboards of which concealed armor plateЧ and most delightful, skillfully landscaped grounds; below ground there was four or five times as much floorspace, immune to anything but a direct hit and possessing an independent air supply with reserves for one thousand hours. During the Crazy Years the conventional wall surrounding the grounds had been replaced by a wall which looked the same but which would stop anything short of a broaching tankЧnor were the gates weak points; their gadgets were as personally loyal as a well-trained dog.
Despite its fortress-like character the house was comfortable. It was also very expensive to keep up.
Harriman did not mind the expense; Charlotte liked the house and it gave her something to do. When they were first married she had lived uncomplainingly in a cramped flat over a grocery store; if Charlotte now liked to play house in a castle, Harriman did not mind.
But he was again starting a shoe-string venture; the few thousand per month of ready cash represented by the household expenses might, at some point in the game, mean the difference between success and the sheriffТs bailiffs. That night at dinner, after the servants fetched the coffee, and port, he took up the matter.
УMy dear, IТve been wondering how you would like a few months in Florida.Ф
His wife stared at him. УFlorida? Delos, is your mind wandering? Florida is unbearable at this time of the year.Ф
УSwitzerland, then. Pick your own spot. Take a real vacation, as long as you like.Ф
УDelos, you are up to something.Ф
Harriman sighed. Being Уup to somethingФ was the unnameable and unforgivable crime for which any American male could be indicted, tried, convicted, and sentenced in one breath. He wondered how things had gotten rigged so that the male half of the race must always behave to suit feminine rules and feminine logic, like a snotty-nosed school boy in front of a stern teacher.
УIn a way, perhaps. WeТve both agreed that this house is a bit of a white elephant. I was thinking of closing it, possibly even of disposing of the landЧ itТs worth more now than when we bought it. Then, when we get around to it, we could build something more modern and a little less like a bombproof.Ф
Mrs. Harriman was temporarily diverted. УWell, I have thought it might be nice to build another place, DelosЧsay a little chalet tucked away in the mountains, nothing ostentatious, not more than two servants, or three. But we wonТt close this place until itТs built, DelosЧafter all, one must live somewhere.Ф
УI was not thinking of building right away,Ф he answered cautiously. УWhy not? WeТre not getting any younger, Delos; if we are to enjoy the good things of life we had better not make delays. You neednТt worry about it; IТll manage everything.Ф
Harriman turned over in his mind the possibility of letting her build to keep her busy. If he earmarked the cash for her Уlittle chalet,Ф she would live in a hotel nearby wherever she decided to build itЧand he could sell this monstrosity they were sitting in. With the nearest roadcity now less than ten miles away, the land should bring more than CharlotteТs new house would cost and he would be rid of the monthly drain on his pocketbook.
УPerhaps you are right,Ф he agreed. УBut suppose you do build at once; you wonТt be living here; youТll be supervising every detail of the new place. I say we should unload this place; itТs eating its head off in taxes, upkeep, and running expenses.Ф
УDischarge the servants? Delos, if you think that I will undertake to make a home for you without a proper staff, you can justЧФ
УStop it.Ф He stood up and threw his napkin down. УIt doesnТt take a squad of servants to make a home. When we were first married you had no servantsЧand you washed and ironed my shirts in the bargain. But we had a home then. This place is owned by that staff you speak of. Well, weТre getting rid of them, all but the cook and a handy man.Ф
She did not seem to hear. УDelos! sit down and behave yourself. Now whatТs all this about cutting expenses? Are you in some sort of trouble? Are you? Answer me!Ф
He sat down wearily and answered, УDoes a man have to be in trouble to want to cut out unnecessary expenses?Ф
УIn your case, yes. Now what is it? DonТt try to evade me.Ф
УNow see here, Charlotte, we agreed a long time ago that I would keep business matters in the office. As for the house, we simply donТt need a house this size. It isnТt as if we had a passel of kids to fill upЧФ
УOh! Blaming me for that again!Ф
УNow see here, Charlotte,Ф he wearily began again, УI never did blame you and IТm not blaming you now. All I ever did was suggest that we both see a doctor and find out what the trouble was we didnТt have any kids. And for twenty years youТve been making me pay for that one remark. But thatТs all over and done with now; I was simply making the point that two people donТt fill up twenty-two rooms. IТll pay a reasonable price for a new house, if you want it, and give you an ample household allowance.Ф He started to say how much, then decided not to. УOr you can close this place and live in the cottage above. ItТs just that we are going to quit squandering moneyЧfor a while.Ф
She grabbed the last phrase. УСFor a while.Т WhatТs going on, Delos? What are you going to squander money on?Ф When he did not answer she went on. УVery well, if you wonТt tell me, IТll call George. He will tell me.Ф
УDonТt do that, Charlotte. IТm warning you. IТllЧФ
УYouТll what!Ф She studied his face. УI donТt need to talk to George; I can tell by looking at you. YouТve got the same look on your face you had when you came home and told me that you had sunk all our money in those crazy rockets.Ф
УCharlotte, thatТs not fair. Skyways paid off. ItТs made us a mint of money.Ф
УThatТs beside the point. I know why youТre acting so strangely; youТve got that old trip-to-the-Moon madness again. Well, I wonТt stand for it, do you hear? IТll stop you; I donТt bave to put up with it. IТm going right down in the morning and see Mr. Kamens and find out what has to be done to make you behave yourself.Ф The cords of her neck jerked as she spoke.
He waited, gathering his temper before going on. УCharlotte, you have no real cause for complaint. No matter what happens to me, your future is taken care of.Ф
УDo you think I want to be a widow?Ф
He looked thoughtfully at her. УI wonder.Ф
УWhyЧ Why, you heartless beast.Ф She stood up. УWeТll say no more about it; do you mind?Ф She left without waiting for an answer.
His УmanФ was waiting for him when he got to his room. Jenkins got up hastily and started drawing HarrimanТs bath. УBeat it,Ф Harriman grunted. УI can undress myself.Ф
УYou require nothing more tonight, sir?Ф
УNothing. But donТt go unless you feel like it. Sit down and pour yourself a drink. Ed, how long you been married?Ф
УDonТt mind if I do.Ф The servant helped himself. УTwenty-three years, come May, sir.Ф
УHowТs it been, if you donТt mind me asking?Ф -
УNot bad. Of course there have been timesЧФ
УI know what you mean. Ed, if you werenТt working for me, what would you be doing?Ф
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