"C M Kornbluth - Gomez" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kornbluth C M)

Beg to introduce self to you the Atomic Scientist as youth 17 working-

"Yes," I told the admiral. "I wrote it, except for the headline. What about it?"

He snapped: "The letter is purportedly from a New York youth seeking information, yet there is no
address for him given. Why is that?"

I said patiently: "I left it off when I copied it for the composing room. That's Trib style on readers' letters.
What is all this about?"

He ignored the question and asked: "Where is the purported original of the letter?"

I thought hard and told him: "I think I stuck it in my pants pocket. I'll get it-" I started for the chair with
my suit draped over it.

"Hold it, mister!" said the young man at the bathroom door. I held it and he proceeded to go through the
pockets of the suit. He found the Gomez letter in the inside breast pocket of the coat and passed it to the
admiral. The old man compared it, word for word, with the clipping and then put them both in his pocket.

"I want to thank you for your cooperation," he said coldly to me and the Sunday editor. "I caution you
not to discuss, and above all not to publish, any account of this incident. The national security is involved
in the highest degree. Good day."

He and his boys started for the door, and the Sunday editor came to life. "Admiral," he said, "this is
going to be on the front page of tomorrow's Trib."

The admiral went white. After a long pause he said: "You are aware that this country may be plunged,
into global war at any moment. That American boys are dying every day in border skirmishes. Is it to
protect civilians like you who won't obey a reasonable request affecting security?"
 The Sunday editor took a seat on the edge of my rumpled bed and lit a cigarette. "I know all that,
admiral," he said. "I also know that



this is a free country and how to keep it that way. Pitiless light on incidents like this of illegal search and
seizure."

The admiral said: "I personally assure you, on my honor as an officer, that you would be doing the
country a grave disservice by publishing an account of this."

The Sunday editor said mildly: "Your honor as an officer. You broke into this room without a search
warrant. Don't you realize that's against the law? And I saw your boy ready to shoot when Vilchek
started for that chair." I began to sweat a little at that, but the admiral was sweating harder.

With an effort he said: "I should apologize for the abruptness and discourtesy with which I've treated
you. I do apologize. My only excuse is that, as I've said, this is a crash-priority matter. May I have your
assurance that you gentlemen will keep silent?"

"On one condition," said the Sunday editor. "I want the Trib to have an exclusive on the Gomez story. I
want Mr. Vilchek to cover it, with your full cooperation. In return, we'll hold it for your release and