"Hiding Place" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morrison William)

"Limited?"
"A dog is no match for a group of reasonably intelligent and very determined
men. I know that the men behind you, Bales, are extremely determined, even if
their intelligence is limited. But Arthur, here, would give me a little time.
Time to kill myself and keep from falling into your hands."
"We have no intention of using violence."
"You used it before."
"We did?" said Bales politely. "That must have been before I was called in."
"They searched my rooms and found nothing. So they waylaid me one evening and
knocked me out."
"And again they found nothing?" said Bales. "I suppose they forgot to tell me."
"It was after that incident that I decided to change my residence." Bales said,
"I'm sorry to hear of it. Obviously they had no idea of the kind of man you
were. They should have appealed to your better feelingsЧ"
"They did that too. They appealed to my love of money, my desire for fame, my
patriotism. It didn't do them any good. You see, I knew what thy discovery could
do."
"All it has done so far is blow up a laboratory."
"But it did that so easily. And it could just as easily blow up a world. That's
what I can't allow, Bales. When the proper time comes, when people are
differentЧ"
Bales waited, but Burroughs didn't finish the sentence.
"You mean you have the secret written down some place?" asked Bales.
"I didn't say that."
"You talk of killing yourself to keep the secret from falling into our hands.
And then you say that when the proper time comes, people will be able to use it.
Even though you're dead, they'll be able to use it."
"There does seem to be a contradiction, doesn't there?" said Burroughs. "Stupid
of me. But as I told you, I've been resting my mind. These days I say many
stupid things."
"Not many. Just this one. You've admitted that the secret is easily accessible."

"Have I? Why don't you take it then?"
"We probably will," said Bales pleasantly. "You see, Burroughs, we can say and
do stupid things, and in the long run they won't do us much harm. But all you
have to do is make one slip, like this oneЧand you're finished."
Burroughs stared at him and then turned to look at the huge dog. The animal
quivered with excitement, and Burroughs said soothingly, "Easy; Arthur. Nothing
for you to do."
Then he turned back to Bales. "You're lucky."
"Not lucky. Just patient."
"No, you're lucky that I'm the kind of man I am. That I'm the kind of damn fool,
as you'd put it, who'd give up millions in royalties just because I know that my
discovery would kill off a good part of the human race. That I'm the kind of
damn fool who won't order the dog to kill you, just because I hate bloodshed.
Even though you're the only man who has drawn the conclusion that the secret is
easily accessible."
"I won't be lucky until I've found it."
"You won't be lucky then either," said Burroughs. "Get out." Bales got out.
The man who was waiting for him at the corner said nothing. His look asked,