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

else?"
"At Sea Ranch number five we lost a man at the fifty-fathom line. Shark."
"Married?"
"No, sir. Nor dependent parents."
"Well, do the pretty thing, whatever it is. You have those videospools of me,
the ones that actor fellow dubbed the sincere voice onto. When we lose one
of our own, we can't have the public thinking we don't give a hoot."
Jake Salomon added, "Especially when we don't." Smith clucked at him.
"Jake, do you have a way to look into my heart? It's our policy to be lavish
with death benefits, plus the little things that mean so much."
"-and look so good. Johann, you don't, have a heart-just dials and
machinery. Furthermore you never did have."
Smith smiled. "Jake, for you we'll make an exception. When you die, we'll
try not to notice. No flowers, not even the customary black-bordered page in
our house organs."
"You won't have anything to say about it, Johann. I'll outlive you twenty
years."
"Going to dance at my wake?"
"I don't dance," the lawyer answered, "but you tempt me to learn."

4
"Don't bother, I'll outlive you. Want to bet? Say a million to your favorite tax
deduction? No, I can't bet; I need your help to stay alive. Byram, check with
me tomorrow. Nurse, leave us; I want to talk with my lawyer."
"No, sir. Dr. Garcia wants a close watch on you at all times."
Smith looked thoughtful. "Miss Bedpan, I acquired my speech habits before
the Supreme Court took up writing dirty words on sidewalks. But I will try to
use words plain enough for you to understand. I am your employer. I pay
your wages. This is my home. I told you to get out. That's an order."
The nurse looked stubborn, said nothing.
Smith sighed. "Jake, I'm getting old-I forget that they follow their own rules.
Will you locate Dr. Garcia-somewhere in the house-and find out how you
and I can have a private conference in spite of this too faithful watchdog?"
Shortly Dr. Garcia arrived, looked over dials and patient, conceded that
telemetering would do for the time being. "Miss MacIntosh, shift to the
remote displays."
"Yes, Doctor. Will you send for a nurse to relieve me? I want to quit this
assignment."
"Now, Nurse-"
"Just a moment, Doctor," Smith put in. "Miss MacIntosh, I apologize for
calling you, 'Miss Bedpan' Childish of me, another sign of increasing
senility. But, Doctor, if she must leave-I hope she won't-bill me for a
thousand-dollar bonus for her. Her attention to duty has been
perfect...despite many instances of unreasonable behavior on my part."
"Oh...see me outside, Nurse."
When doctor and nurse had left Salomon said dryly, "Johann, you are
senile only when it suits you."
Smith chuckled. "I do take advantage of age and illness. What other
weapons have I left?"
"Money."