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

said, тАЬI thought I'd missed you.тАЭ

тАЬHi, Duck. No, I'm still here.тАЭ

тАЬI tried to call you last night but your phone answered 'service discontinued,' so I hooked school and
came up.тАЭ
тАЬAw, you shouldn't have done that.тАЭ

тАЬBut I wanted to bring you this.тАЭ He handed me a package, a whole pound of chocolates. I didn't know
what to say.

I thanked him and then said, тАЬDuck, I appreciate it, I really do. But I'll have to give them back to you.тАЭ

тАЬHuh? Why?тАЭ

тАЬWeight Mass, I mean. I can't get by with another ounce.тАЭ

тАЬYou can carry it.тАЭ

тАЬThat won't help. It counts just the same.тАЭ

He thought about it and said, тАЬThen let's open it.тАЭ

I said, тАЬFine,тАЭ and did so and offered him a piece. I looked at them myself and my stomach was
practically sitting up and begging. I don't know when I've been so hungry.

I gave in and ate one. I figured I would sweat it off anyhow; it was getting hot and I had my Scout
uniform on under my ship suitтАФand that's no way to dress for the Mojave Desert in June! Then I was
thirstier than ever, of course; one thing leads to another.

I went over to a drinking fountain and took a very small drink. When I came back I closed the candy
box and handed it back to Duck and told him to pass it around at next Scout meeting and tell the fellows
I wished they were going along. He said he would and added, тАЬYou know, Bill, I wish I was going. I
really do.тАЭ

I said I wished he was, too, but when did he change his mind? He looked embarrassed but about then
Mr. Kinski showed up and then Dad showed up, with Molly and the bratтАФPeggyтАФand Molly's sister,
Mrs. van Metre. Everybody shook hands all around and Mrs. van Metre started to cry and the brat
wanted to know what made my clothes so bunchy and what was I sweating about?

George was eyeing me, but about then our names were called and we started moving through the gate.

George and Molly and Peggy were weighed through and then it was my turn. My baggage was right on
the nose, of course, and then I stepped on the scales. They read one hundred and thirty-one and one
tenth poundsтАФI could have eaten another chocolate.

тАЬCheck!тАЭ said the weightmaster, then he looked up and said, тАЬWhat in the world have you got on, son?тАЭ

The left sleeve of my uniform had started to unroll and was sticking out below the half sleeve of my ship
suit. The merit badges were shining out like signal lights.