"E. E. Doc Smith - Skylark 1 - Skylark of Space " - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith E. E. Doc)

`Careful, Dorothy,' he cautioned her. `Nothing that actually happens is or can be
preposterous. But as I said, this copper bath left Washington in a straight line for scenes
unknown. We intend to follow it in a suitable vehicle.'

He paused, looking at his companion's face. She did not speak, and he went on in his
matter-of-fact tone.

`Building the spaceship is where I come in. As you know, I have almost as much money
as Dick has brains; and some day, before the summer is over, we expect to go
somewhere . . , some place a considerable distance from this earth.'

Then, after enjoining strict secrecy, he told her what he had seen in the laboratory and
described the present state of affairs.

`But if he thought of all that . . . was brilliant enough to work out such a theory and to
actually plan such an unheard-of thing as space-travel ... all on such a slight foundation of
fact ... why couldn't he have told me?'

`He fully intended to. He still intends to. Don't believe for a moment that his absorption
implies any lack of love for you. I was coming to visit you about that when I saw you out
here. He's driving himself unmercifully. He eats hardly anything and doesn't seem to sleep
at all. He has to take it easy or break down, but nothing I can say has had any effect.
Can you think of anything you, or you and I together, can do?'

Dorothy still walked along, but it was a different Dorothy. She was erect and springy, her
eyes sparkled, all her charm and vitality were back in force.

`I'll say I can!' she breathed. `I'll stuff him to the ears and put him to sleep right after
dinner, the big dope!'

This time it was Crane who was surprised, so surprised that he stopped, practically in
mid-stride. `How?' he demanded. `You talk about something being preposterous - how?'

`Maybe you hadn't better know the gory details.' She grinned impishly. `You lack quite a
bit, Marty, of being the world's best actor, and Dick mustn't be warned. Just run along
home, and be sure you're there when I get there. I've got to do some phoning .... 1'll be
there at six o'clock, and tell Shiro not to make you two any dinner.'


She was there at six o'clock.


-23-
`Where is he, Marty? Out in the shop?'

`Yes.'

In the shop, she strode purposefully toward Seaton's oblivious back. `Hi, Dick. How's it
coming?'