"Robert A. Heinlein - The Green Hills of Earth (Collected Stor" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

"Nobody, so far as I know."
He thought a bit. "We've got to keep her out of sight.
That's it-we keep her locked up and out of sight until the next ship
matches in." He didn't look at her.
"What in the world are you talking about?" McNye's voice was higher
and no longer pleasant.
Tiny glared. "You, that's what. What are you-a stowaway?'
"Don't be silly! I'm G. B. McNye, electronics engineer. Don't you have
my papers?"
Tiny turned to me. "Dad, this is your fault. How in Chr- pardon me,
Miss. How did you let them send you a woman? Didn't you even read the
advance report on her?"
"Me?" I said. "Now see here, you big squarehead! Those forms don't
show sex; the Fair Employment Commission won't allow it except where it's
pertinent to the job."
"You're telling me it's not pertinent to the job here?"
"Not by job classification it ain't. There's lots of female radio and radar
men, back Earthside."
"This isn't Earthside." He had something. He was thinking of those two-
legged wolves swarming over the job outside. And G. B. McNye was pretty.
Maybe eight months of no women at all affected my judgment, but she would
pass.
"I've even heard of female rocket pilots," I added, for spite.
"I don't care if you've heard of female archangels; I'll have no women
here!"
"Just a minute!" If I was riled, she was plain sore. "You're the
construction superintendent, are you not?"
"Yes," Tiny admitted.
"Very well, then, how do you know what sex I am?'
"Are you trying to deny that you are a woman?"
"Hardly! I'm proud of it. But officially you don't know what sex G. Brooks
McNye is. That's why I use 'G' instead of Gloria. I don't ask favors."
Tiny grunted. "You won't get any. I don't know how you sneaked in, but
get this, McNye, or Gloria, or whatever. you're fired. You go back on the next
3
ship. Meanwhile we'll try to keep the men from knowing we've got a woman
aboard."
I could see her count ten. "May I speak," she said finally, "or does your
Captain Bligh act extend to that, too?"
"Say your say."
"I didn't sneak in. I am on the permanent staff of the Station, Chief
Communications Engineer. I took this vacancy myself to get to know the
equipment while it was being installed. I'll live here eventually; I see no
reason not to start now."
Tiny waved it away. "There'll be men and women both here some day.
Even kids. Right now it's stag and it'll stay that way."
"We'll see. Anyhow, you can't fire me; radio personnel don't work for
you." She had a point; communicators and some other specialists were lent
to the contractors, Five Companies, Incorporated, by Harriman Enterprises.
Tiny snorted. "Maybe I can't fire you; I can send you home.