"Robert A. Heinlein - Farnham's Freehold" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

Thirty-eight points in the two hands-grand slam.
That's what the book said! Barbara girl, "three no trump" is twenty-
five, twenty-six, or twenty-seven points-add thirteen and it reads "Grand
Slam."
But was Mr. Farnham playing by the book? Or was he bidding a shut-out to
grab the rubber and nail down that preposterous bet?
If she passed, then game and rubber-and four hundred dollars-was
certain. But grand slam (if they made it) was, uh, around fifteen dollars at
the stakes Duke and his father were playing. Risk four hundred dollars of her
partner's money against a chance of fifteen? Ridiculous!
Could she sneak up on it with the Blackwood Convention? No, no! -- there
hadn't been background bidding.
Was this one of those bids Duke had warned her about?
(But her partner had said, "Play by the book.")
"Seven no trump," she said firmly.
Duke whistled. "Thanks, Barbara. We're ganging up on you, Dad. Double."
"Pass."
"Pass," Karen echoed.
Barbara again counted her hand. That singleton king looked awfully
naked. But...either the home team had thirty-eight points-or it didn't.
"Redouble."
Duke grinned. "Thanks, sweetie pie. Your lead, Karen."
Mr. Farnham put down his hand and abruptly left the table. His son said,
"Hey! Come back and take your medicine!"
Mr. Farnham snapped on the television, moved on and switched on the
radio, changed its setting. "Red alert!" he snapped. "Somebody tell Joseph!"
He ran out of the room.
"Come back! You can't duck this with that kind of stunt!"
"Shut up, Duke!" Karen snapped.
The television screen flickered into life: " -- closing down. Tune at
once to your emergency station. Good luck, good-bye, and God bless you all!"
As the screen went blank the radio cut in: " -- not a drill. This is not
a drill. Take shelter. Emergency personnel report to their stations. Do not go
out on the street. If you have no shelter, stay in the best protected room of
your home. This is not a drill. Unidentified ballistic objects have been radar
sighted by our early-warning screens and it must be assumed that they are
missiles. Take shelter. Emergency personnel report to their -- "
"He means it," Karen said in an awed voice. "Duke, show Barb where to
go. I'll wake Joseph." She ran out of the room.
Duke said, "I don't believe it."
"Duke, how do we get into the shelter?"
"I'll show you." He stood up unhurriedly, picked up the hands, put each
in a separate pocket. "Mine and Sis's in my trousers, yours and Dad's in my
coat. Come on. Want your suitcase?"
"No!"


Chapter 2
 Duke led her through the kitchen to the basement stairs. Mr. Farnham was
halfway down, his wife in his arms. She seemed asleep. Duke snapped out of his