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

Virginia



C. M. Kornbluth




Virginia



IAMBS "BUNNY" COOOLER woke on the morning of his father's funeral with a confused feeling that
it was awfully crowded in his bedroom. Ohara, his valet (of the Shimanoseki Oharas, and not to be
confused with theDublinbranch of the family) was shaking his sleeve and saying: "You wake up, Missah
Bunny! Ah, such important gentermen come see youl" Bunny groped on the bedside table for the
sunglasses to shelter his pink-rimmed eyes from the light. Ohara popped them onto his face and then
rapidly poured a prairie oyster, a bromo and a cup of black coffee laced with brandy into him. Bunny's
usual rate of morning vibration began to dampen towards zero and he peered about the room through the
dark lenses.



"Morning, young Coogler," said a gruff voice. The outline was that of J. G. Barsax, senior partner of his
late father's firm. A murmur of greeting came from three other elephantine figures. They were Gonfalonieri
of First American, Witz of Diversified Limited, and McChesney of Southern Development Inc. If an
efficient bomb had gone off in the room at that moment, it would have liquidated eighteen-billion-dollars'
worth of Top Management and Ownership.



"Sony about your father," Barsax grunted. "Mind if we



sit? Not much time before the funeral. Have to brief you fast."



Bunny said, "Mr. Sankton told me what I'd have to do, Mr. Barsax. Rise after the 'Amen,' lead the
procession past the casket, up the center aisle to the limousine exitтАФ"



"No, no, no. Of course you know the funeral form. I'm talking about the financial briefing. Coogler,
you're a very wealthy young man."