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

Facing him was a four-by-five colour-stereo television receptor.
Two sets of coordinates, rectilinear and polar, crosshatched it.
Another smaller receptor hung above it and to the right. Both
receptors were fully recording, by means of parallel circuits
conveniently out of the way in another compartment.
The smaller receptor showed the faces of two men watching him.
The larger showed a scene inside a large shop, hangar-like in
its proportions. In the immediate foreground, almost full size,
was a grinder in which was being machined a large casting of
some sort. A workman stood beside it, a look of controlled
exasperation on his face.
тАШHeтАЩs the best youтАЩve got,тАЩ Waldo stated to the two men in the
smaller screen. тАШTo be sure, he is clumsy and does not have the
touch for fine work, but he is superior to the other morons
you call machinists.тАЩ
The workman looked around, as if trying to locate the voice.
It was evident that he could hear Waldo, but that no vision
receptor had been provided for him.
тАШDid you mean that crack for me?тАЩ he said harshly.
тАШYou misunderstand me, my good man,тАЩ Waldo said sweetly. тАШI was
complimenting you. I actually have hopes of being able to teach
you the rudiments of precision work. Then we shall expect you
to teach those butter-brained oafs around you. The gloves,
please.тАЩ
Near the man, mounted on the usual stand, were a pair of primary
waldoes, elbow length and human digited. They were floating on
the line, in parallel with a similar pair physically in front of
Waldo. The secondary waldoes, whose actions could be controlled
by Waldo himself by means of his primaries, were mounted in front
of the power tool in the position of the operator.
WaldoтАЩs remark had referred to the primaries near the workman.
The machinist glanced at them, but made no move to insert his
arms in them. тАШI donтАЩt take no orders from nobody I canтАЩt see,тАЩ
he said flatly. He looked sideways out of the scene as he spoke.
тАШNow, Jenkins,тАЩ commenced one of the two men in the smaller screen.
Waldo sighed. тАШI really havenтАЩt the time or the inclination to
solve your problems of shop discipline. Gentlemen, please turn
your pickup, so that our petulant friend may see me.тАЩ
The change was accomplished; the workmanтАЩs face appeared in the
background of the smaller of WaldoтАЩs screens, as well as in the
larger.
тАШThere - is that better?тАЩ Waldo said gently. The workman grunted.
тАШNow.. . your name, please?тАЩ
тАШAlexander Jenkins.тАЩ
тАШVery well, friend Alec - the gloves.тАЩ
Jenkins thrust his arms into the waldoes and waited. Waldo put
his arms into the primary pair before him; all three pairs,
including the secondary pair mounted before the machine, came to
life. Jenkins bit his lip, as if he found unpleasant the
sensation of having his fingers manipulated by the gauntlets he