"Mack Reynolds - Planetary Agent X" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reynolds Mack)

cause the feudalistic nobility to be tossed onto the ash heap. A
planet with a dictatorship doesnтАЩt want subversives from some
democracy trying to undermine their institutionsтАФand vice versa.тАЭ
тАЬAnd itтАЩs our job to enforce all this, eh?тАЭ Ronny said.
тАЬThatтАЩs right,тАЭ Metaxa told him sourly. тАЬItтАЩs not always the
nicest job in the system. However, if you believe in United Planets,
an organization attempting to co├╢rdinate, in such a manner as it
can, the efforts of its member planets, for the betterment of all,
then you must accept Section G and Interplanetary Security.тАЭ
Ronny Bronston thought about it.
Metaxa added, тАЬThatтАЩs why one of the requirements of this
job is that you yourself be a citizen of United Planets, rather than
of any individual planet, have no religious affiliations, no political
beliefs, and no racial prejudices. YouтАЩve got to be able to stand
aloof.тАЭ
тАЬYeah,тАЭ Ronny said thoughtfully.
Ross Metaxa looked at his watch again and sighed wearily.
тАЬIтАЩll turn you over to one of my assistants,тАЭ he said. тАЬIтАЩll see you
again, though, before you leave.тАЭ
тАЬBefore I leave?тАЭ Ronny said, coming to his feet. тАЬBut where
do I start looking for this Tommy Paine?тАЭ
тАЬHow the hell would I know?тАЭ Ross Metaxa growled.




II

In the outer office, Ronny said to the receptionist,
тАЬCommissioner Metaxa said for me to get in touch with Sid Jakes.тАЭ

She said, тАЬIтАЩm Irene Kasansky. Are you with us?тАЭ
Ronny said, тАЬI beg your pardon?тАЭ
She said impatiently, тАЬAre you going to be with the Section?
If you are, IтАЩve got to clear you with your old job. You were in
statistics over in New Copenhagen, werenтАЩt you?тАЭ
Somehow it seemed far away now, the job heтАЩd held for more
than five years. тАЬOh, yes,тАЭ he said. тАЬYes, Commissioner Metaxa has
given me an appointment.тАЭ
She looked up at him. тАЬProbably to look for Tommy Paine.тАЭ
He was taken aback. тАЬThatтАЩs right. How did you know?тАЭ
 тАЬThere was talk. This Section is pretty well integrated.тАЭ She
grimaced, but on her it looked good. тАЬOne big happy family. High
interdepartmental morale. That sort of nonsense.тАЭ She flicked
some switches. тАЬYouтАЩll find Supervisor Jakes through that door,
one to your left, two to your right.тАЭ
He could have asked one what to his left and two what to his
right, but evidently Irene Kasansky thought he had enough
information to get him to his destination. SheтАЩd gone back to her
work.