"Henry Kuttner - The Creature From Beyond Infinity UC" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kuttner Henry)

"What's going on up at your placer' the storekeeper asked him, proffering a bottle. -
Sammy drank two measured gulps and wiped his lips.
- "The Lord only knows," he sighed. "It's way beyond me. Stevie's a swell boy, though. You can bet on that."
"Yeah!" retorted somebody, with an angry snort. "He's a
cold-blooded fish, you mean. The boy ain't human. He's got
ice-water in his veins. Comes and goes without so much as a
howdy-do." - -
"He's thinking," Sammy defended sturdily. "Cot a lot on his mind - these days, Stevie has. He gets about two hours' sleep a night."
"But what's he doin'r'
"I don't know," admitted Sammy. "Inventing something, maybe." -~
"More than likely he'll blow us all up one of these
fine days," grunted the storekeeper. The loungers around the -
stove nodded in agreement. "Here's the- train coming in.
Hear itr' -
Sammy settled himself more comfortably. "There ought to be a package for Stevie, then."
There was. The old man took the parcel -and left the station. He stood for a time, watching the train disappear into the distance. Its whistle sang a seductive song that aroused nostalgia in Sammy's bosom. He sighed, remembering the old days when he had been a hungry, carefree bindle-stiff. Well, he was better off now-well fed and cared for, without any worries. But it was nice to hear a train whistlG once in awhile. . . .

He climbed into the' roadster -and zoomed off toward the mansion. Ten minutes later he let himself into the hall, to be met by an anxious-eyed girl in a white uniform.
"Did it corner' she asked. -
"Sure, Marion. Here it is." -
He gave her the parcel. Holding it tightly, she turned and hurried away.
Since her arrival three years ago, Marion Barton had become a fixture in the house. She had been hired, at first, as a temporary laboratory assistant, during the absence of the regular one. But she had interested Court who saw surprising capabilities in her. -
The fact that Marion was altogether lovely-slim, brown-eyed, dark-haired, with a peach complexion and remarkably kissable lips-meant nothing at all to Court. He merely catalogued her as a perfect physical specimen, thoroughly healthy, and concentrated on the more interesting occupation of investigating her mind. What he found there pleased him.
"She's intelligent," he told Sammy, "and she is meticulously careful. I've never seen her make a mistake. She's such a perfect assistant for me - that we work in complete harmony. The girl seems to know exactly what I want, whether to hand me a scalpel or a lens, and she's completely unemotional. I shall keep her on, Sammy, and train her."
"Uh-huh," said the old man, nodding wisely. "She does all that, and she's completely unemotional, eh? Well, maybe so. Sure she ain't in love with you, Stevier'
"Rot!" Court snapped, but it made him think it was necessary to warn Marion. "I'll pay you well," he explained to her, "and give you an invaluable training. But I have no time for emotional unbalance. I cannot afford distractions. Do you understand me?"
"Well," Marion observed with desperate levity, "I'll wear horn-rimmed glasses if you want, and hoop-skirts if my legs distract you."
"Not at all. I merely mean that there must be no question of any-well-infatuation."
Marion was silent for a moment, though her eyes sparkled dangerously.
"All right," she said quietly. "I won't fall in love with you, Mr. Court. Is that satisfactory?"
"Quite," Court said. -He turned away, obviously dismissing the subject, - while Marion glared at his retreating back. .

She was remembering this scene now as she went into Court's laboratory. He was bent over a table, one eye to a microscope, his lips tensely pursed. Marion waited till he bad finished his count. He straightened and saw her.
"Cot it?" he asked calmly. "Good."
Court ripped open the package and drew out a small, leather-bound notebook. Hastily he flipped through the pages. His strong, tanned face darkened.
"Wait a minute, Marion," he called as the girl moved to leave. "I want to talk to you."
"Yes?"
"Er-this is New Year's Eve, I know. Had you planned on doing anything tonight?" -
Marion's brown eyes widened. She stared at Court in amazement. Was he trying to date her?
"Why, I did plan on-"
"I should appreciate it," he said~ without a trace of embarrassment, "if you would stay and help me with some research tonight. I regret having to say this, but it's rather important. I want to verify certain tests."
"I'll stay," Marion assented briefly, but she flushed.
"Good. Stain these slides, please."
For several hours the two worked in silence. Court engrossed with his microscope, the girl busy dyeing the samples. Finally Court exhausted a small tank and conducted experiments in the vacuum he had created. -
Time dragged on, till th'~ huge old house was utterly still. The chill of a Wisconsin winter blanketed it, making frost patterns on the window panes. Inside the room it was warm enough, though snow lay thickly on the ground outside.
Presently Marion slipped out of the room and returned bearing a tray of coffee and sandwiches. She set it on a table and glanced at Court. Standing by a window, he was idly smoking a cigarette.
"Mr. Court-"
"What is it?" he asked, without looking around. His face was upturned to the quiet night outside as he spoke again, not waiting for her answer. "Come here."
Marion obeyed. She was astonished to see that Court's face was drawn and haggard, actually gray around the lips. But his eyes were feverishly bright.
"Up there," he said, pointing. "Do you see anything?"