"Robert A. Heinlein - Red Planet" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

Howdy, Willis," he added and turned back to his work. He
was dressing the hand of a boy about Jim's age.

"Thanks, Doc. OhтАФhello, Francis. What are you doing
here?"

"Hi, Jim. I killed a water-seeker, then I cut my thumb on
one of its spines."

"Quit squirming!" commanded the doctor.
"That stuff stings," protested Francis.

"I meant it to. Shut up."

"How in the world did you do that?" persisted Jim. "You
ought to know better than to touch one of those things. Just
bum 'em down and bum 'em up." He zipped open the front of
his outdoor costume, peeled it off his arms and legs and hung
it on a rack near the door. The rack held Francis's suit, the
headpiece of which was painted in bright colors like an Indian
brave's war paint, and the doctor's suit, the mask of which was
plain. Jim was now stylishly and appropriately dressed for
indoors on MarsтАФbare naked save for bright red jockey shorts.

"I did bum it," explained Francis, "but it moved when I
touched it. I wanted to get the tail to make a necklace."

"Then you didn't bum it right. Probably left it full of live
eggs. Who're you making a necklace for?"

RED PLANET 3

"None of your business. And I did so bum the egg sac.
What do you take me for? A tourist?"

"Sometimes I wonder. You know those things don't die
until sundown."

"Don't talk nonsense, Jim," the doctor advised. "Now,
Frank, I'm going to give you an anti-toxin shot. 'Twon't do
you any good but it'll make your mother happy. Long about
tomorrow your thumb will swell up like a poisoned pup; bring
it back and I'll lance it."

"Am I going to lose my thumb?" the boy asked.

"Nope. But you'll do your scratching with your left hand
for a few days. Now, Jim, what brings you here? Bellyache?"

"No, Doc. It's Willis."