"William Morrison - Playground" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morrison William)

Under his real name,тАФ "William Morrison'' is a general man of letters, writing everything
from children's stories to adult quality fiction тАФ which leaves us wondering how he finds time to
turn out the large amount of distinguished science fiction which appears with the Morrison
by-line. He's an old-timer in the field, dating back to 1941; but readers are apt to think of him as
one of the newer writers because his work in the past four years has been so much more
individual and off trail than his earlier conventional science fiction. The Morrison name is now a
trademark for unusually detailed and logical exploration of an odd idea тАФ as in this, the first of a
number of Morrison novelets which F & SF is happy to bring you. Here's an adventure story of
peril on a strange planet тАФ and also a wry and very funny commentary on family life, as it is
today or will be in the Galactic Future, among ourselves or among giants 1167 feet tall.


Playground
by WILLIAM MORRISON
GEORGE WAS READING a book of old poetry, the kind that rhymed, when Jerry ran in and said,
"Dad."
He frowned. "Haven't I told you before that I don't want to be interrupted when I'm reading?"
"I know, Dad, but I thought тАФ well, this is kind of important. The gauge registers one-tenth gee."
"A planet or a sun?"
"A planet, but it looks kind of big. And our engines are missing, and it's pulling us down toward it,
and Mom is kind of worried. She said тАФ"
"Never mind what she said. I'll take a look."
He threw down the book of poetry, without even marking the page, and started to follow Jerry out of
the room. By the time they reached the corridor, he was ahead of Jerry. Why the devil didn't the kid tell
him in the first place that Sabina was worried? He'd have known then it was no trifle, he wouldn't have
wasted time being annoyed and asking silly questions.
The rest of the family was in the pilot's cabin, Sabina at the controls, Lester peering over her
shoulder, Carl trying to push Lester out of the way.
Sabina looked up as he came hurrying in. "I don't think there's much danger, George," she said. "But
I thought you ought to know."
"Of course I ought to know. Not that I'm worried about the way you handle the ship. Still тАФ"
He stared at the instrument panel. "Point one three gee," said Sabina. "It's pulling us down."
"What's wrong with the engines?"
"There's just no power. I think that either the fuel line is clogged or something has diluted the
uranium."
"Nothing wrong according to the instruments. But they may be out of order."
Sabina looked flushed and unusually pretty, as she did sometimes when she spent too much time over
the electronic stove. "I think we'll have to land, George. The auxiliary engine is all right тАФ I tested it. It'll
take us down for a landing."
"But what sort of planet is this?"
"Diameter 12,000 miles, density one point five seven," began Lester officiously. "Atmosheeric
pressure тАФ"
"All right, all right. I can read the instruments."
Lester looked hurt, and Sabina said reproachfully, "Oh, George, he's only trying to be helpful."
We've been cooped up too long together, he thought. No family should be forced to spend more
than a month in any ship. And here we've been getting on each other's nerves for half a year. But Sabina
is right, I'm too brusque with the kid. He's only eight, and I mustn't hurt his feelings. He said, "I'm sorry,
Lester. Go on. What else does it say?"
"Atmosheeric pressure тАФ"
 "Atmospheric pressure, dear," corrected Sabina.