"Robert A. Heinlein - Farmer In The Sky" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

тАЬOh. Look, George, I could just about make it if it weren't for my accordion. But it licks me.тАЭ

тАЬHmm . . . Have you considered listing it as a cultural item?тАЭ

тАЬHuh?тАЭ
 тАЬRead the fine print. Approved cultural items are not covered by the personal weight schedule. They are
charged to the colony.тАЭ

It had never occurred to me that I might have anything that would qualify. тАЬThey wouldn't let me get
away with it, George!тАЭ

тАЬCan't rule you out for trying. Don't be a defeatist.тАЭ

So two days later I was up before the cultural and scientific board, trying to prove that I was an asset. I
knocked outTurkey in the Straw, Nehru'sOpus 81, and the introduction to Morgenstern'sDawn of the
22nd Century, as arranged for squeeze boxes. I gave themThe Green Hills of Earth for an encore.

They asked me if I liked to play for other people and told me politely that I would be informed as to the
decision of the board . . . and about a week later I got a letter directing me to turn my accordion over to
the Supply Office, Hayward Field. I was in, I was a тАЬcultural assetтАЭ!

Four days before blast-off Dad came home early-he had been closing his officeтАФand asked me if we
could have something special for dinner; we were having guests. I said I supposed so; my accounts
showed that we would have rations to turn back.

He seemed embarrassed. тАЬSonтАФтАЭ

тАЬHuh? Yes, George?тАЭ

тАЬYou know that item in the rules about families?тАЭ

тАЬUh, yes.тАЭ

тАЬWell, you were right about it, but I was holding out on you and now I've got to confess. I'm getting
married tomorrow.тАЭ

There was a sort of roaring in my ears. Dad couldn't have surprised me more if he had slapped me.

I couldn't say anything. I just stood there, looking at him. Finally I managed to get out, тАЬBut, George,
you can't do that!тАЭ

тАЬWhy not, Son?тАЭ

тАЬHow about Anne?тАЭ

тАЬAnne is dead.тАЭ

тАЬButтАФ ButтАФтАЭ I couldn't say anything more; I ducked into my room and locked myself in. I lay on the
bed, trying to think.