"Mack Reynolds - Stowaway" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reynolds Mack)

Dick Roland was on his feet and getting the video-news wire from its built-in file.
"Ummm," he said. "Most effective criminal for the past century. If lie keeps on making haul
after haul, he ought to be set for life pretty soon."
Ensign Mart Baki, his chubby face questioning, and his mouth still working on some tidb
or other, hurried through the wardroom door. "Haven't started the video-wire yet have -" H
saw they were about to run it and interrupted himself. "Good," he said, and slumped into a
chair.
"Be ready in a second," Dick Roland told him.
"Good. By the way, you fellows hear the news?"
They weren't particularly interested. There wasn't any news that could develop on a spa
cruiser on a year long trip.
He said, nonchalantly, "Commander Gurloff thinks he'll turn around and head back home
They spun on him. " What!"
He grinned at their excitement. "April Fool!"
They stared at him, then their eyes went to each other, questioningly.
Doctor Thorndon entered the tiny officer's mess and wardroom just in time to pick up the
end of the conversation. He said soothingly, "Never mind, boys, he's not down with cafard.
a joke."
"A joke?" Johnny Norsen grumbled. "Why the fat little makron had Dick and me believin
him for a minute. What's this about April something or other?"
Doc Thorndon settled into a chair. He was a cheerful, rolypoly man, his cheeks still pink
his hair thinning and graying. He was about forty-five - old for the space service.
"April Fool," he said. "It's a time-honored jest. By the ancient calendar there was a day
the Terran year during which persons played practical jokes on. each other. When the victim
became indignant, the perpetrator merely called out April Fool! and the other was forced to
admit himself duped."
They still didn't quite get it. Doc Thorndon added, patiently, "If we were still following
old calendar, this would be-April lst, All Fool's Day, as they called it."
Dick Roland said, "Well, anyway, here's the video-news for last April Fool's Day." He
dimmed the room's lights and flashed the video wire on the wall so that everyone could rea
Over an hour later, he said, "Should we run it again now, or should we wait another cou
of hours."
"Three times is enough," Johnny Norsen said, "We'll get tired of it otherwise. Remembe
it's another twenty-four hours until we get another one. Let's sit around and discuss it for
awhile."
"Yeah," Mart Bakr said. The chubby third officer shook his head in reluctant admiration
"Did you see that item about Jackie Black? They almost got him there on Calypso, but he's t
slick for them."
Johnny Norsen grunted contemptuously. "I don't think that was him at all. Too big, for on
thing. I wouldn't be surprised if Black was still on Earth. They've been reporting him on ev
planet and satellite in the system, but I'll bet he never left Neuvo Los Angeles, where he pu
his last--"
"Caper," Doc Thorndon said.
The other three looked at him. "His what?" Mart Bakr asked.
"His caper," the doctor repeated, pleased with himself. "It's a new word I ran into today
Criminals used to call a crime a caper."
Dick Roland shook his head and grinned. "What a hobby. Prehistoric slang."
There was a gentle knock at the wardroom door and the four of them looked up at the
messman who stood there, somewhat nervous at being in officer's country.
"Yes, Spillane?" Johnny Norsen said.