"Fredrik Pohl - Callistan Tomb" - читать интересную книгу автора (Pohl Frederick)

detailed a group of eight to the tube. With a great metallic groan the mechanism was reversed, and the
men were swallowed down into the crust of the moon.
Teck touched a stethoscope to the struts of the device. "No trouble yet," he announced to the circle
of men. "They're telling each other dirty stories." There was a crackle of laughter from the group.
"Now they're coming out at the bottom. WaitтАФyes, their exciter lamps have gone out." He looked
up smiling. "That means the blanket wave is working." Again Teck applied the stethoscope. "I can't hear
them now. They had electrics, so I suppose theyтАЩve gone to look for Pyle.тАЭ He reversed the tube again,
to its normal upward flow, and sat down to wait. A few minutes passed, thenтАФ
The tube coughed suddenly. тАЬSomething coming up,тАЭ said Teck. He speeded up the systole and
diastole; it seemed as though the mechanism would tear itself apart with the violence of its drive. Chunks
of rock dribbled over the lip of the tube, and then the limp figure of a man was disgorged. тАЬIs this Pyle?тАЭ
asked the supervisor.
Rawson scanned the lax figures. тАЬYes. Did they kill him?тАЭ
тАЬJust a needle of paralyte, I think. ItтАЩll wear off in a moment.тАЭ Swiftly Teck strapped down the arms
and legs of the unconscious man. The eyes opened and in them was the stare of madness.
тАЬPretty hopeless,тАЭ said the supervisor, turning away.
тАЬOh wellтАжOne man crazy and seventeen dead. No wonder they cancelled my insurance,тАЭ said
Rawson.
тАЬWhat about it?тАЭ Foley asked. тАЬThey didnтАЩt mean much. Their work did; it meant the chance of living
to millions of people.тАЭ
тАЬSure, I know it; I work here, donтАЩt I? And IтАЩm not quitting тАж ButтАФBut letтАЩs get to sleep, I mean.
We need it.тАЭ They trudged away, were halted in their tracks by a yell from the men around the peristaltic
tube. They spun around.
Rocks were pouring from the mouth of the tube. The supervisor picked one up, held it to the distant
sun and scanned it. тАЬOre!тАЭ he cried, his words carrying to Rawson and Foley. тАЬAnd the highest grade
stuff IтАЩve seen in a long time!тАЭ
Rawson looked at Foley and smiled; received FoleyтАЩs smile in exchange. Then they started off once
more for their bunks. It had been a hard shift.