"William Morrison - The Sack" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morrison William)

"So you refused to make an independent decision, did you?"
"My duty, Senator, is to look after the welfare of the Sack. I do not concern
myself with political questions. We had a moment of free time the day before I left
the asteroid, when an investor who had already paid his money was delayed by a
space accident, so instead of letting the moment go to waste, I utilized it to ask the
Sack a question."
"How you might advance your own fortunes, no doubt?"
"No, sir. I merely asked it how it might function most efficiently. I took the
precaution of making a recording, knowing that my word might be doubted. If you
wish, Senator, I can introduce the recording in evidence."
Senator Horrigan grunted, and waved his hand. "Go on with your answer. "
"The Sack replied that it would require two hours of complete rest out of every
twenty, plus an additional hour of what it called `recreation.' That is, it wanted to
converse with some human being who would ask what it called sensible questions,
and not press for a quick an-swer."
"So you suggest that the Government waste three hours of every twentyтАФone
hundred and eighty million credits?"
"Eighteen million," whispered the secretary.
"The time would not be wasted. Any attempt to overwork the Sack would result
in its premature an-nihilation."
"That is your idea, is it?"
"No, sir, that is what the Sack itself said."
At this point Senator Horrigan swung into a speech of denunciation, and Siebling
was excused from further testimony. Other witnesses were called, but at the end the
Senate investigating body was able to come to no definite conclusion, and it was
decided to interrogate the Sack personally.
It was out of the question for the Sack to come to the Senate, so the Senate quite
naturally came to the Sack. The Committee of Seven was manifestly uneasy as the
senatorial ship decelerated and cast its grapples toward the asteroid. The members,
as individuals, had all traveled in space before, but all their previous destinations had
been in civilized territory, and they obviously did not relish the prospect of landing
on this airless and sunless body of rock.
The televisor companies were alert to their op-portunity, and they had acquired
more experience with desert territory. They had disembarked and set up their
apparatus before the senators had taken their first timid steps out of the safety of
their ship.
Siebling noted ironically that in these somewhat frightening surroundings, far from
their home grounds, the senators were not so sure of themselves. It was his part to
act the friendly guide, and he did so with relish.
"You see, gentlemen," he said respectfully, "it was decided, on the Sack's own
advice, not to permit it to be further exposed to possible collision with stray
meteors. It was the meteors which killed off the other members of its strange race,
and it was a lucky chance that the last surviving individual managed to escape
destruction as long as it has. An impenetrable shelter dome has been built therefore,
and the Sack now lives under its protection. Questioners address it through a sound
and sight system that is almost as good as being face to face with it."
Senator Horrigan fastened upon the significant part of his statement. "You mean
that the Sack is safeтАФand we are exposed to danger from flying meteors?"
"Naturally, Senator. The Sack is unique in the system. MenтАФeven senatorsтАФare,
if you will excuse the expression, a decicredit a dozen. They are definitely