"Colin Kapp - The Imagination Trap" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kapp Colin)

no idea that Government influence extended to the point of including armed servicemen
alongside Tau CorporationтАЩs own formidable security force. The two men were checked and
counter-checked at each level and intersection with a meticulous care which placed a sinister
stamp on the ultimate importance of the project.
Brevis smiled wryly. тАЬIf I have as much trouble getting into Heaven as weтАЩve had getting
into here, I donтАЩt think IтАЩll bother.тАЭ
тАЬDonтАЩt worry,тАЭ said Diepenstrom. тАЬThe qualifications for entry are somewhat
differentтАФone might almost say mutually exclusive.тАЭ
тАЬThatтАЩs a rare piece of cynicism.тАЭ
тАЬWait,тАЭ said the Director, тАЬuntil youтАЩve seen what we have to show you. There are more
things in Heaven and on Earth than are dreamed of in your psychology.тАЭ
They reached the appointed door, and Diepenstrom withdrew the bolts with a heavy
clatter and stood aside for the psychologist to enter.
тАЬThis is one of the ten or so probe vessels which we have been able to recover. It came
back to us on an automatic-recall vector from deep-Tau, and itтАЩs not the least of our
curiosities.тАЭ
Brevis entered the room and walked around the exhibit, his face registering a melange of
fear and fascination.
тАЬWhat sort of trick is this?тАЭ
тАЬNo trick, Doctor. Simply one of those things that we at Tau Research have had to learn to
live with.тАЭ
тАЬAnd the pilot?тАЭ Brevis asked at last the question he had been avoiding.
тАЬHe came back alive but died in hospital. He was completely to scale with the craft. He
was desperately mad and measured exactly one and a quarter inches tall. Do you want to see
any more?тАЭ
тАЬNot just now. One has to learn to re-adjust.тАЭ
тАЬYouтАЩre not feeling ill, are you?тАЭ
тАЬNo. I was just thinking what a remarkable character your pilot must have been.тАЭ
тАЬYouтАЩve got beyond me there,тАЭ said Diepenstrom, with sudden interest. тАЬWhat did you have
in mind, Doctor?тАЭ
тАЬI was reflecting that you sent him into a complex so vast that it doesnтАЩt include the
limiting concept тАШuniverseтАЩ. The wonder to me is not that he came back minute, but that he
didnтАЩt come back microscopic.тАЭ
A trace of light flickered across DiepenstromтАЩs brow.
тАЬI think youтАЩre on to something, Dr Brevis. Paul Porter was right. You do have an intuitive
understanding of the irrational. WonтАЩt you have second thoughts about joining our team?тАЭ
тАЬDamn you, Diepenstrom! YouтАЩve pushed the ball right into my court.тАЭ
тАЬI merely showed you the ball. You did the pushing.тАЭ
тАЬBut you knew which way it would roll.тАЭ
тАЬCertainly. With the pitch inclined at an angle of forty-five degrees in the right direction, I
could scarcely miss. ItтАЩs what I call an imagination trap. Give an expert an outstanding
problem in his own field, and you have one of the most infallible mousetraps ever devised.
Now suppose we go upstairs and sign that contract?тАЭ
тАЬI still havenтАЩt said I agree,тАЭ Brevis said.
тАЬNo, but you will. You see, if you walk out now youтАЩll always be haunted by the vision of
the Tau probe vessel which came back only twenty-two inches long and with a pilot not as big
as your thumb. I donтАЩt think a man with your imagination could live with himself with that
problem unresolved.тАЭ
тАЬIt would appear,тАЭ said Brevis, тАЬthat I am now working for Tau Corporation until death do us
partтАФunless I misread the small print at the bottom of the contract. Although, if I have your