"Eric Frank Russel - Mechanistria" - читать интересную книгу автора (Russell Eric Frank)

Flettner was duly exhibited in front of us, blushed like a kid at McNultyтАЩs frequent references to
the efficiency of the ship in which, for once, he didnтАЩt resort to understatement.
Back of the crowd of greeters I saw old Knud Johannsen, the robot master, struggling to get
through and anxiously looking for Jay. Sometimes I wonder whether I have precognition for-
although I didnтАЩt know what was coming-the sight of that white-haired, old wizard wanting to meet
his last and greatest creation made me think of a fond father seeking his son.
The rah-rahs ended and we began to unload. Cans of coppery water, flasks of compressed alien
air, hundreds of samples of earths and metals were lugged out. We produced the busted automatons
and the government experts rushed away with them as if they were transferring the jewels of Asia.
Wilson departed even faster, bearing his plates and several cans of film.
Old Knud extracted himself from the onlooking mob, said to me, тАЬHello, sergeant-whereтАЩs Jay?тАЭ
He had no hat and his silvery locks gleamed in the sun.
Jay emerged from the lock at that moment. His shining eyes found the white-haired figure
waiting for him. You know, robots canтАЩt make wisecracks, they just canтАЩt-and Jay had never made
one in his existence, leastways, not a recognisable one. But this time he made one of the best IтАЩve
ever heard and it brought a slight lump into my sentimental gullet.
 Taking KnudтАЩs thin, veined hand in his huge metal paw, he said, тАЬHello-Dad!тАЭ I couldnтАЩt see
KnudтАЩs fond face, but I heard Jay add, тАЬIтАЩve brought you an interesting souvenir.тАЭ
He gestured toward the lock from which came a loud clanking and a whiff of pungent oil. The
captive coffin emerged, its copper curl coiled up and attached by a wire to a black box on its back.
Steve Gregory walked behind it, his eyebrows lopsided with gratification.
Arm in arm, Jay and Knud strolled away, the alien automaton following close behind, Steve
trailing in the rear. I lost sight of them when two special-delivery toughies started to haul up the
gangway an enormous vase of horrible shape and revolting colours.
Reaching the top, one of them produced a paper, surveyed it with distaste and informed, тАЬThis
super-gobboon is for a Snake-arms named Kli Morg.тАЭ
тАЬIтАЩll go tell him:тАЩ As a precautionary afterthought, I said, тАЬMeanwhile, youтАЩd better return it to
ground-level-the skipper wonтАЩt have it on board.тАЭ
They broke it on the way down.