"E. E. Doc Smith - Masters of Space" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith E. E. Doc)

You've been Caspar Milquetoast Two ever since we left Base." "That's the way it
looks
to you?" Hilton's right hand became a fist. "The man has age, experience and
ability.
I've been trying to meet him on a ground of courtesy and decency."

"Exactly. And he doesn't recognize the existence of either. And, since the
Board
rammed you down his throat instead of giving him old Jeffers, you needn't expect
him
to."

"You may be right, Bill. What do you think, Dr. Cummings?"
 The girl said: "Bill's right. Also, your constant appeasement isn't doing the
morale of the
whole scientific group a bit of good."

"Well, I haven't enjoyed it, either. So next time I'll pin his ears back.
Anything else?"

"Yes, Dr. Hilton, I have a squawk of my own. I know I was rammed down your
throat,
but just when are you going to let me do some work?"

"None of us has much of anything to do yet, and won't have until we light
somewhere.
You're off base a country mile."

"I'm not off base. You did want Eggleston, not me."

"Sure I did. I've worked with him and know what he can ,> do. But I'm not
holding a
grudge about it."

"No? Why, then, are you on first-name terms with everyone in the scientific
group
except me? Supposedly your first assistant?"

"That's easy!" Hilton snapped. "Because you've been carrying chips on both
shoulders
ever since you came aboard . . . or at least I thought you were." Hilton grinned
suddenly
and held out his hand. "Sorry, Sandy-I'll start all over again."

"I'm sorry too, Chief." They shook hands warmly. "I was pretty stiff, I guess,
but I'll be
good."

"You'll go to work right now, too. As semantician. Dig out that directive and