"Games" - читать интересную книгу автора (Maclean Katherine)

Would the man with the keys who looked in the door twice a day care whether Purcell died with dignity? He was the only audience, and his expression never changed when Purcell asked him to point out to the authorities that he was not being given anything to eat. It was funny to Purcell that he wanted the respect of any audience to his death, even of a watcher without expression and without response, who treated him as if he were already an inanimate, indifferent object.

Perhaps the man felt contempt for him. Perhaps the watcher would smile and respond only if Purcell said, УI have changed my mind. I will tell.Ф

But if he said that, he would lose his own respect.

At the National BioChemical Convention, the reporter had asked him if any of his researches could be applied to warfare.

He had answered the reporter with no feeling of danger in what he said, knowing that what he did was common practice among research men, sure that he had an unchallengeable right to do it.

УSome of them can apply to warfare, but those I keep to myself.Ф

The reporter remained deadpan. УFor instance?Ф

УWell, I have to choose something that wonТt reveal how itТs done now, butЕ ahЕ for example, a way of cheaply mass producing specific anti-toxins against any germ. It sounds harmless if you donТt think about it, but actually it would make germ warfare the most deadly and inexpensive weapon yet developed, for it would make it possible to prevent the back-spread of contagion into a countryТs own troops without much expense, they wouldnТt bother to inoculate bystanders and neutral nations, that would let out to the enemy thatЧWell, there would be hell to pay if anyone ever let that technique out.Ф

Then he added, trying to get the reporter to understand enough to change his cynical un-impressed expression. УYou understand, germs are cheapЧthere would be a new plague to spread everytime some pipsqueak biologist mutated a new germ. It isnТt even expensive or difficult.Ф

The headline was: УScientist Refuses to Give Secret of Weapon to Government.Ф



Government men came with more reporters, and asked him if the headline was correct. When he confirmed it they pointed out that he owed a debt to his country. The research foundations where he had worked were subsidized by Government money. He had been deferred from military service during his youthful years of study and work so that he could become a productive scientist instead of having to fight or die on the battlefield.

УThis might be so,Ф he had said. УI am making an attempt to serve mankind by doing as much good and as little damage as possible. If you donТt mind, IТd rather use my own judgment abut what constitutes service.Ф

The statement seemed too blunt, and he recognized that it had implications that his judgement was superior to that of the Government. It probably was the most antagonizing thing that he could have said, but he could see no other possible statement, for it represented precisely what he thought.

There were bigger headlines about the interview.

Scientist Refuses to Give Secret. Patriotism Not Important Says Purcell. The evening and morning News Commentators mentioned the incident on the TV screens of the city.

When he stepped outside his building for lunch the next day, several small gangs of patriots were waiting to persuade him that patriotism was important. They fought each other to reach him.

The police rescued him after he had lost several front teeth and had one eye badly gouged. They then left him to the care of the prison doctor, in protective custody. Two days later, after having been questioned politely several times as to whether he considered it best to continue to keep important results of his researches secret, he was transferred to a place that looked like a military jail, and left alone. He was told that they were protecting him from threats against his life.

When someone came to ask him further questions about his attitude, Purcell felt quite sure that his imprisonment was illegal. He stated that he was going on a hunger strike until he was allowed to have visitors and see a lawyer.

The next time the dinner hour arrived, they gave him nothing to eat. There had been no food in the cell since, and that was probably two weeks ago. He was not sure just how long, for during part of the second week his memory had become garbled. He dimly remembered nightmares that might have been delirium. He might have been sick for more than one day.

Perhaps the military who wanted the antitoxins for germ warfare were waiting quietly for him to either talk or die. Perhaps they were afraid that someone else would get the information from him. Or perhaps no one cared if he lived or died, and they had stopped the food when he declared a hunger strike, and then forgotten he existed.



Ronny got up from the grass and went into the kitchen, stumbling in his walk like a beginning toddler.

УChoc-mil?Ф he said to his mother.

She poured him some, and teased gently, УWhatТs the matter, RonnyЧback to baby-talk?Ф