"Heinlein, Robert A- Space Family Stone" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

'You've got that wrong, Junior. You mean "sisters" - girls are okay.'
Pollux considered this. 'Yeah, I guess you're right.' 'I'm always right.'
'Oh, so? How about the time you tried to use liquid air to -'
'Let's not be petty!'
Grandmother Hazel stuck her head in next. 'Just a quick battle report, boys. Your father is groggy but still fighting gamely.'
'Is he going to let us use the money?'
'Doesn't look like it, as now. Tell me, how much did Ekizian ask you for that Detroiter?'
Castor told her; she whistled. 'The gonoph,' she said softly. 'That unblushing groundhog - I'll have his license lifted.'
'Oh, we didn't agree to pay it.'
'Don't sign with him at all unless I'm at your elbow. I know where the body is buried.'
'Okay. Look, Hazel, you really think a Detroiter VII is unstable?'
She wrinkled her brow. 'Its gyros are too light for the ship's moment of inertia. I hate a ship that wobbles. If we could pick up a war-surplus triple-duo gyro system, cheap, you would have soinething. I'll inquire around.'
It was much later when Mr Stone looked in. 'Still awake, boys?'
'Oh, sure, come in.'
'About that matter we were discussing tonight -'
Pollux said, 'Do we get the money?'
Castor dug him in the ribs but it was too late. Their father said, 'I told you that was out. But I wanted to ask you: did you, when you were shopping around today, happen to ask, us, about any larger ships?'
Castor looked blank. 'Why, no sir. We couldn't afford anything larger could we, Pol?'
'Gee, no! Why do you ask, Dad?'
'Oh, nothing, nothing at all! Uh, good night.'
He left. The twins turned to each other and solemn!y shook hands.


II
A CASE FOR DRAMATIC LICENSE

At breakfast the next morning - 'morning' by Greenwich time, of course; itwas still late afternoon by local sun time and would be for a couple of days - the Stone family acted out the episode Hazel had dictated the night before of Mr Stone's marathon adventure serial. Grandma Hazel had stuck the spool of dictation into the autotyper as soon as she had gotten up; there was a typed copy for each of them. Even Buster had a small side to read and Hazel played several parts, crouching and jumping around and shifting her voice from rusty bass to soprano.
Everybody got into the act - everybody but Mr Stone; he listened with a dour try-to-make-me-laugh expression.
Hazel finished her grand cliff-hanging finale by knocking over her coffee She plucked the cup out of the air and had a napkin under the brown flood before it could reach the floor under the urge of the Moon's leisurely field. 'Well?' she said breathlessly to her son, while still panting from the Galactic Overlord's frantic attempts to escape a just fate. 'How about it? Isn't that a dilly? Did we scare the dickens out of 'em or didn't we?'
Roger Stone did not answer; he merely held his nose. Hazel looked amazed. 'You didn't like it? Why, Roger, I do believe you're jealous. To think I would raise a son with spirit so mean that he would be envious of his own mother!'
Buster spoke up. 'I liked it Let's do that part over where I shoot the space pirate.' He pointed a finger and made a zizzing noise. 'Whee! Blood all over the bulkheads!'
'There's your answer, Roger. Your public. If Buster likes it, you're in.'
'I thought it was exciting,' Meade put in. 'What was wrong with it' Daddy?'
'Yes,' agreed Hazel belligerently. 'Go ahead. Tell us.'
'Very well. In the first place, spaceships do not make hundred-and eighty-degree turns.'
'This one does!'
'In the second place, what in blazes is this "Galactic Overlord" nonsense? When did he creep in?'
'Oh, that! Son, your show was dying on its feet, so I gave it a transfusion.'
'But "Galactic Overlords" - now, really! It's not only preposterous: it's been used over and over again.'
'Is that bad? Next week I'm going to equip Hamlet with atomic propulsion and stir it in with The Comedy of Errors. I suppose you think Shakespeare will sue me?'
'He will if he can stop spinning.' Roger Stone shrugged 'I'll send it in. There's no time left to do another one and the contract doesn't say it has to be good: it just says I have to deliver it. They'll rewrite it in New York anyway.'
His mother answered, 'Even money says your fan mail is up twenty-five per cent on this episode.'
'No, thank you. I don't want you wearing yourself out writing fan mail - not at your age.'
'What's wrong with my age? I used to paddle you twice a week and I can still do it. Come on; put up your dukes!'
'Too soon after breakfast.'
'Sissy! Pick your way of dying - Marquis of Queensbury, dockside, or kill-quick.'
'Send around your seconds; let's do this properly. In the meantime - ' He turned to his sons. 'Boys, have you any plans for today?'
Castor glanoed at his brother, then said cautiously, 'well, we were thinking of doing a little more shopping for ships.
'I'll go with you.'
Pollux looked up sharply. 'You mean we get the money?' His brother glared at him. Their father answered, 'No, your money stays in the bank where it belongs.'