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

"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 schoolтАФ"
"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 kidsтАФ"
"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
nowтАФlike you?"