"Robert A. Heinlein - Stranger in a Strange Land - Original Ve" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

another one. Here, help me lift him into the bed. No-fill it first."
Frame did so, cutting off the flow when the cover skin floated six inches
from the top. They lugged him into it, awkwardly because he had frozen into the
foetal position. "Get a collar pillow under his neck," instructed Nelson, "and
call me when he comes out of it. No-let me sleep, I need it. Unless something
worries you. We'll walk him again this afternoon and tomorrow we'll start
systematic exercise. In three months I'll have him swinging through the trees
like a monkey. There's nothing really wrong with him."
 "Yes, Doctor," Frame answered doubtfully.
"Oh, yes, when he comes out of it, teach him how to use the bathroom. Have
the nurse help you; I don't Want him to fall."
"Yes, sir. Uh, any particular method-I mean, how-"
"Eh? Show him, of course! Demonstrate. He probably won't understand much
that you say to him, but he's bright as a whip. He'll be bathing himself by the
end of the week."
Smith ate lunch without help. Presently a male orderly came in to remove
his tray. The man glanced around, then came to the bed and leaned over him.
"Listen," he said in a low voice, "I've got a fat proposition for you."
"Beg pardon?"
"A deal, a bargain, a way for you to make a lot of money fast and easy."
'Money?' What is 'money'?"
"Never mind the philosophy; everybody needs money. Now listen I'll have to
talk fast because I can't stay in here long-and it's taken a lot of fixing to
get me in here at all. I represent Peerless Features. We'll pay you sixty
thousand for your exclusive story and it won't be a bit of trouble to
you-we've got the best ghost writers in the business. You just talk and answer
questions; they put it together." He whipped out a piece of paper. "Just read
this and sign it. I've got the down payment with me."
Smith accepted the paper, stared thoughtfully at it, holding it upside
down. The man looked at him and muffled an exclamation. "Lordyl Don't you read
English?"
Smith understood this well enough to answer. "No."
"Well- Here, I'll read it to you, then you just put your thumb print in
the square and I'll witness it. 'I, the undersigned, Valentine Michael Smith,
sometimes known as the Man from Mars, do grant and assign to Peerless Features,
Limited, all and exclusive rights in my true-fact story to be titled I Was a
Prisoner on Mars in exchange for-"
"Orderly!"
Dr. Frame was standing in the door of the watch room; the paper
disappeared into the man's clothes. "Coming, sir. I was just getting this tray."
"What were you reading?"
"Nothing."
"I saw you. Never mind, come out of there quickly. This patient is not to
be disturbed." The man obeyed; Dr. Frame closed the door behind them. Smith lay
motionless for the next half hour, but try as he might he could not grok it at
all.


IV