"Edgar Pangborn - A Mirror for Observers" - читать интересную книгу автора (Pangborn Edgar)

"You confuse sharpness with accuracy. As if a microscopist forgot to allow for relative
size and saw an amoeba as big as an elephant. . . . As I remember, after your
resignation you were first seen by us in 30,896, in the Philippines."

"Was I?" Namir chuckled. "Didn't know that. You get around."

"They say you made a convincing Spaniard. In Manila, a day or so after the official
murder of Jos├й Rizal. You had some part in that?"

"Modesty forbids тАФ no, really, his human killers could have managed perfectly well
without me. Rizal was an idealist. That made his slaughter almost automatic, a human
reflex action."

"Other idealists have тАФ oh, I think eternity would be too short to argue with you. Not a
single kind word for humanity then?" Namir smiled. "Not even for Angelo
Pontevecchio?"

"You're truly concerned over that child? Ridiculous! As I said, he's a kitten now, but I'll
make a tiger of him. You'll hear the lambs bleat with blood in the throat even up here
among your pretty dreams."

"Perhaps not."

"Would you dare to bet on it?"

The Director reached for a primitive telephone. "If you like. It won't affect the outcome.
Nor would any Observer I send, maybe. However . . ." He spun the crank. "Regardless of
whom I send, Namir, your real antagonist is not the Observer, not I, but Angelo
himself."

"Of course. Telephones! Getting modern as next week."

Drozma said pedantically: "It happens we invented the telephone in 30,834. Naturally
when Bell reinvented the wretched thing independently in '876 he made some
improvements. We're not gadget-minded. And his successors тАФ oh dear! Fortunately we
don't need all those refinements. Anyway we had to wait till men brought their lines
north of Winnipeg before it was convenient to talk City-to-City. Now I suppose you
might call us тАФ ah тАФ unofficial subscribers. We have a full-time Communicator in
Toronto, sorry I'm not free to give you his name. Hello. . . ? Hello. . . ?" Namir chortled.
Drozma said plaintively: "I suppose the operator is in contemplation. Does it matter? I
can always call again. You know, Namir, I had this тАФ ah тАФ gimmick installed simply
because I can't easily walk around any more. I don't actually like the things. I тАФ oh,
hello. . . ? Why, thank you, my dear, and on you the peace of the laws. When you have
time, will you send word that I want to see Elmis? . . . Yes, the historian. He's probably
in the Library, or else the Music Room, if this is his practice time тАФ I can't remember.
Thank you, dear." He put away the receiver with a twiddle of pudgy fingers. "A
gimmick."

"Can't wait till you grow up to radio."