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

most of what they read. But one thing I don't get. How about the teachers?"
"I was the only teacher."
"Sure of that?" asked Bales.
"Stuart would have used his own book, but he was dead. I put up the money to
publish it, out of my own savings. That's why I could insert the formula without
anyone's noticing or caring. I used the book in the other high school, and in
this one. But I didn't advertise it, and no other Latin teacher ever heard of
it."
"So there are copies only in two high schools."
"And a couple of warehouses," said Burroughs. "Some day they'll be sold as
remainders."
"Aren't they still in use in the other high school ?"
"No. When a new teacher comes in, he uses a text he's accustomed to. He doesn't
like to get stuck with an edition which may suggest a meaning different from the
one he gives the kids."
Bales nodded. "You could count on the teachers not reading it, and the kids not
understanding it. Copies, however, are lying around. And in the future, somebody
with nothing better to do will start reading out of idle curiosity. Or some
teacher with no money to spare for the standard textbook may pick these up as a
bargain, and the thing will be read. And, eventually, understood for what it
is."
"That's what I counted on. I hoped the time would come after people knew how to
use it. Not now. Have you spoken to anyone about what you've found?"
"No."
The dog seemed to tense.
Bales said sharply, "Don't be a fool. If anything happens to me, especially
here, they'll know I found something. They'll trace my movements, learn that I
spent time with your book and a dictionary, and they'll have it. If nothing
happens to me, they won't learn a thing."
"I can't take a chance. I hate to do it, but I have to kill you. I'll have to
get rid of those books even if I burn the schoolЧ"
"You'd only give yourself away. Don't panic, Burroughs. If conscience can make
you give up millions of dollars, do you think it can't make me give up ten
thousand and a bonus?"
"I don't know. I can't take a chance."
"You have to," said Bales. "You have to take a chance on my intelligence. Let me
remind you that I'm a chemist. I realize how easy the stuff will be to make. And
once it was made in quantity, there'd be no secret. Everybody would use it, and
I wouldn't live any longer to enjoy that ten thousand than you'd live to enjoy
your millions. It's for my own sake that I have to keep my mouth shut. And
incidentally, I have a wife and kid. Does that mean anything to you?"
Burroughs said frozenly, "I don't know. I've seen men with wives and kidsЧ"
"I want mine, to live. Goodbye, Burroughs. When the next guy comes around, don't
talk. Don't open your mouth to say a thing."
The dog was still tense, but he made no move to stop Bales horn getting to the
door. There Walter Bales paused. "One more thing," he said.
"What is it?"
"Damn you for leaving me with a secret like this. How do you think I'm going to
sleep nights nowЧlike you?"