"Robert A. Heinlein - I will fear no evil" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

"Too late, Parkinson. Erasures are made only by unanimous consent,
implied or overt. One objection is enough-and I, Johann Sebastian Bach
Smith, do so object... and that rule controls because 1 wrote it before you
learned to read.
"But"-Smith looked around at the others-"I do have news. As you heard
from Mr. Teal, all our divisions are in satisfactory shape; Sea Ranches and
General Textbooks are more than satisfactory-so this is a good time for me
to retire."
Smith waited, then said, "You can close your mouths. Don't look smug,
Parky; I have more news for you. I stay on as chairman of the board but will
no longer be chief executive. Our chief counsel, Mr. Jake Salomon,
becomes deputy chairman and-"
"Hold it, Johann. I am not going to manage this five-ring circus."
"Nobody said you would, Jake. But you can preside at board meetings
when I'm not available. Is that too much to ask?"
"Mmm, I suppose not."
"Thank you. I'm resigning as president of Smith Enterprises, and Mr. Byram
Teal becomes our president and chief executive officer-he's doing the work;
it's time he got the title-and pay and stock options and all the perks and
privileges and tax loopholes. No more than fair."
Parkinson said, "Now see here, Smith!"
"Hold it, youngster. Don't start a remark to me with 'Now see here-' Address
me as 'Mr. Smith' or Mr. Chairman.' What is your point?"
Parkinson controlled himself, then said, "Very well, Mister Smith. I can't
accept this. Quite aside from promoting your assistant to the office of
president in one jump-utterly unheard of!-if there is a change in
management, 1 must be considered. I represent the second largest block of
voting stock."
"I did consider you for president, Parky."
"You did?"
"Yep. I thought about it...and snickered."
"Why, you-"
"Don't say it, I might sue. What you forget is that my block has voting
control. Now about your block- By company policy anyone representing five
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percent or more of voting stock is automatically on the board even if nobody
loves him and he suffers from spiritual bad breath. Which describes both
you and me.
"Or did describe you. Byram, what's the late word on proxies and stock
purchases?"
"A full report, Mr. Smith?"
"No, just tell Mr. Parkinson where he stands."
"Yes, sir. Mr. Parkinson, you now control less than five percent of the voting
stock."
Smith added sweetly, "So you're fired, you young ghoul. Jake, call a special
stockholders' meeting, legal notice, all formalities, for the purpose of giving
Parky a gold watch and kicking him out-and electing his successor. Further
business? None. Meeting's adjourned. Stick around, Jake. You, too,
Eunice. And Byram, if you have anything on your mind."
Parkinson jumped to his feet. "Smith, you haven't heard the last of this!"