"Eric Frank Russel - Next of Kin" - читать интересную книгу автора (Russell Eric Frank)

added, "Keen by name and keen by nature." He contemplated the other a short while, went on more
soberly, "You've picked yourself a tough job."



"That doesn't worry me," Leeming assured. "Birth, marriage and death are tough jobs."



"You might never come back."



"Makes little difference. Eventually we'll all take a ride from which we'll never come back."



"Well, you needn't mention it with such ghoulish satisfaction," Farmer complained. "Are you married?"



"No, sir. Whenever I get the urge I just lie down quietly until the feeling passes off."



Farmer eyed the ceiling and said, "God!"



"What else do you expect?" asked Leeming, displaying slight aggressiveness. "A scout-pilot operates
single-handed. He's like a bug in a metal can and has to learn to dispense with a lot of things; especially
companionship. It's surprising how much one can do without if one really tries."



"I'm sure," soothed Farmer. He gestured toward the starmap. "On that the nearest points of light are
arrayed across the enemy's front. The mist of stars behind them are unknown territory. The Combine
may be far weaker than we think because its front is wafer-thin. Or it may be more powerful because its
authority stretches far to the rear. The only way to find out exactly what we're up against is to effect a
deep penetration through the enemy's spatial lines."



Leeming said nothing.



"We propose to sent a special scout-ship through this area where occupied worlds lie far apart, the
Combine's defences are somewhat scattered and their detector devices are relatively sparse." Farmer put
his finger on a dark patch on the map. "With the speed your vessel possesses the enemy will have hardly