"Robert A. Heinlein - The Door into Summer" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

тАЮI donтАЩt want to see the animal; I just want to know.тАЬ
тАЮWell,тАЬ I admitted, тАЮhe prefers it with a dash of bitters, but heтАЩll drink
it straight if he has to.тАЬ
тАЮItтАЩll ruin his kidneys. Look here a moment, friend.тАЬ
тАЮAt what?тАЬ
тАЮLean back so that your head is close to where mine is. Now look up at the
ceiling over each booth . . . the mirrors up in the decorations. I knew there
was a cat there-because I saw it.тАЬ
I leaned back and looked. The ceiling of the joint had a lot of junky
decoration, including many mirrors; I saw now that a number of them, camouflaged
by the design, were so angled as to permit the cashier to use them as periscopes
without leaving his station. тАЮWe need that,тАЬ he said apologetically. тАЮYouтАЩd be
shocked at what goes on in those booths . . . if we didnтАЩt keep an eye on тАЪem.
ItтАЩs a sad world.тАЬ
тАЮAmen, brother.тАЬ I went on out
Once outside, I opened the bag and carried it by one handle; Pete stuck
his head out. тАЮYou heard what the man said, Pete. тАЪItтАЩs a sad world.тАЩ Worse than
sad when two friends canтАЩt have a quiet drink together without being spied on.
That settles it.тАЬ
тАЮNow?тАЬ asked Pete.
тАЮIf you say so. If weтАЩre going to do it, thereтАЩs no point in stalling.тАЬ
тАЮNow!тАЬ Pete answered emphatically.
тАЮUnanimous. ItтАЩs right across the street.тАЬ
 The receptionist at the Mutual Assurance Company was a fine example of the
beauty of functional design. In spite of being streamlined for about Mach Four,
she displayed frontal-mounted radar housings and everything else needed for her
basic mission. I reminded myself that she would be WhistlerтАЩs Mother by the time
I was out and told her that I wanted to see a salesman.
тАЮPlease be seated. I will see if one of outтАЩ client executives is free.тАЬ
Before I could sit down she added, тАЮOur Mr. Powell will see you. This way,
please.тАЬ
Our Mr. Powell occupied an office which made me think that Mutual did
pretty well for itself. He shook hands moistly, sat me down, offered me a
cigarette, and attempted to take my bag. I hung onto it. тАЮNow, sir, how can we
serve you?тАЬ
тАЮI want the Long Sleep.тАЬ
His eyebrows went up and his manner became more respectful. No doubt
Mutual would write you a camera floater for seven bucks, but the Long Sleep let
them get their pattypaws on all of a clientтАЩs assets. тАЮA very wise decision,тАЬ he
said reverently. тАЮI wish I were free to take it myself. But . . . family
responsibilities, you know.тАЬ He reached out and picked up a form. тАЮSleep clients
are usually in a hurry. Let me save you time and bother by filling this out for
you . . . and weтАЩll arrange for your physical examination at once.тАЬ
тАЮJust a moment.тАЬ
тАЮYes?тАЬ
тАЮOne question. Are you set up to arrange cold sleep for a cat?тАЬ
He looked surprised, then pained. тАЮYouтАЩre jesting.тАЬ
I opened the top of the bag; Pete stuck his head out. тАЮMeet my side-kick.
Just answer the question, please. If the answer is тАЪno,тАЩ I want to sashay up to
Central Valley Liability. Their offices are in this same building, arenтАЩt they?тАЬ