"Eric Frank Russel - The Ultimate Invader" - читать интересную книгу автора (Russell Eric Frank)

number, name, code, cipher or other verbal identification?"
"James Lawson."
"Sex, if any?"
"Male."
"Age?"
"None."
"There now," said the interviewer, scenting coming awk-wardness. "You must
have an age. "
"Must I?"
"Everyone has an age."
"Have they?"
"Look," insisted the interviewer, very patient, "nobody can be ageless."
"Can't they?"
He gave it up, murmuring, "It's unimportant anyway. His time-units are
meaningless until we get his planetary data. " Glancing down at his question sheet, he
carried on. "Purpose of visit?" His eyes came up as he waited for the usual boring
response such as, "Normal exploration." He repeated, "Pur-pose of visit?"
"To see Markhamwit, " responded James Lawson.
The interviewer yelped, "What?", cut off the recorder and breathed heavily for a
while. When he found voice again it was to ask, "You really mean you've come
specially to see the Great Lord Markhamwit?"
"Yes."
He asked uncertainly, "By appointment?"
"No. "
That did it. Recovering with great swiftness, the interviewer became aggressively
officious and growled, "The Great Lord Markhamwit sees nobody without an
appointment. "
"Then kindly make one for me."
"I'll find out what can he done," promised the other, having no intention of doing
anything whatsoever. Turning the re-corder on again, he resumed with the next
question.
`"Rank? "
 "None. "
"Now look hereтАФ"
"I said none!" repeated Lawson.
"I heard you. We'll let it pass. It's a minor point that can be brought out later. "
With that slightly sinister comment he tried the next question. "Location of origin?"
"The Solarian Combine."
Flip went the switch as the unlucky desk instrument again got put out of action.
Leaning backward, the interviewer rubbed his forehead. A passing official glanced at
him,
stopped.
"Having trouble, Dilmur?"
"Trouble?" he echoed bitterly. He mooned at his question sheet. "What a day!
One thing after another! Now this! "
"What's the matter?"
He pointed an accusative finger at Lawson. "First he pre-tends to be ageless.
Then he gives the motive behind his arrival as that of seeing the Great Lord without
prior arrangement." His sigh was deep and heartfelt. "Finally, to top it all, he claims
that he comes from the Solarian Combine."