"Mike Resnick - Bully!" - читать интересную книгу автора (Resnick Mike)

Roosevelt walked to the door of the tent, then paused and turned back to face Boyes.

тАЬA force, you say?тАЭ he asked thoughtfully, as a lion coughed and a pair of hyenas
laughed maniacally in the distance.

тАЬThat's right, Mr. President,тАЭ said Boyes, getting to his feet. тАЬI can promise you at
least fifty men like ourselves. They may not be much to look at, but they'll be men
who aren't afraid to work or to fight, and each and every one of them will be loyal to
you, sir.тАЭ
тАЬFather, it's getting late,тАЭ called Kermit from outside the tent.

тАЬYou go along,тАЭ said Roosevelt distractedly. тАЬI'll join you in a few minutes.тАЭ He
turned back to Boyes. тАЬFifty men?тАЭ

тАЬThat's right, Mr. President.тАЭ

тАЬFifty men to tame the whole of Central Africa?тАЭ mused Roosevelt.

Boyes nodded. тАЬThat's right. There's seven of us right here; we could have the rest
assembled inside of two weeks.тАЭ

тАЬIt's very tempting,тАЭ admitted Roosevelt, trying to surpress a guilty smile. тАЬIt would
be a chance to be both a boy and a President again.тАЭ

тАЬThe Congo would make one hell of a private hunting preserve, sir,тАЭ said Boyes.

The American was silent for a moment, and finally shook his massive head. тАЬIt
couldn't be done,тАЭ he said at last. тАЬNot with fifty men.тАЭ

тАЬNo,тАЭ said Boyes. тАЬI suppose not.тАЭ

тАЬThere are no roads, no telephones, no telegraph lines.тАЭ Roosevelt paused, staring at
the flickering lanterns that illuminated the interior of the tent. тАЬAnd the railway ends
in Uganda.тАЭ

тАЬNo access to the sea, either,тАЭ agreed Boyes pleasantly, as the lion coughed again
and a herd of hippos started bellowing in the nearby river.

тАЬNo,тАЭ said Roosevelt with finality. тАЬIt simply couldn't be doneтАФnot with fifty men,
not with five thousand.тАЭ

Boyes grinned. тАЬNot a chance in the world.тАЭ

тАЬA man would have to be mad to consider it,тАЭ said Roosevelt.

тАЬI suppose so, Mr. President,тАЭ said Boyes.

Roosevelt nodded his head for emphasis. тАЬTotally, absolutely mad.тАЭ