"E. E. Doc Smith - The Galaxy Primes" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith E. E. Doc)

my idea of urbanity and there's altogether too much obligation to suit me. For all of which good reasons I am not
going to pair with you, now or ever.'
'How do you know whether I'm a virgin or not? You've never read me that deep. Nobody can. Not even you, unless I
let you.'
'Reading isn't necessary - you flaunt it like a banner.'
'I don't know what you mean ... I certainly don't do it intentionally. But I ought to pair with you, Clee!' Lola had lost
all of her nervousness, most of her fear. 'It's part of the job I was chosen for. If I'd known, I'd've gone out and got
some experience. Really I would have.'
'I believe that. I think you would have been silly enough to have done just that And you have a very high regard for
your virginity, too, don't you?'
'Well, I ... I used to. But we'd better go ahead with it. I've got to.'
'No such thing. Permissible, but not obligatory.'
'But it was assumed. As a matter of course. Anyway ... well, when that girl started making passes at you, I thought
you could have just as much fun, or even more, without pairing with me, and then I had to open my big mouth and be
the one to keep you from playing games with anyone except me, and I certainly am not going to let you suffer...'
'Bunk!' Garlock snorted. 'Sheer nonsense! Pure psychological prop-wash, started and maintained by men who are
either too weak to direct and control their drives or who
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haven't any real work to occupy their minds. It applies to many men, of course, possibly to most. It does not,
however, apply to all, and it lacks one whole hell of a lot applying to me. Does that make you feel better?'
'Oh, it does ... it does. Thanks, Clee. You know, I like you a lot.'
'Do you? Kiss me.'
She did so.
'See?'
'You tricked mej'
'I did not. I want you to see the truth and face it. Your idealism is admirable, permanent, and shatter-proof; but your
starry-eyed schoolgirl's mawkishness is none of the three. You'll have to grow up, someday. In my opinion, forcing
yourself to give up one of your hardest-held ideals - virginity -merely because of the utter bilge that those idiot
headshrinkers stuffed you with, is sheer, plain idiocy. I suppose that makes you like me even less, but I'm laying it
right on the line.'
'No ... more. I'll argue with you, when we have time, about some of your points, but the last one - if it's valid - has
tremendous force. I didn't know men felt that way. But no matter what my feeling for you really is, I'm really grateful
to you for the reprieve ... and you know, Clee, I'm pretty sure you're going to get us back home."
'I'm going to try to. Even if I can't, it will be Belle not you, that I'll take for the long pull. And not because you'd
rather have Jim - which you would, of course...'
'To be honest, I think I would.'
'Certainly. He's your type. You're not mine; Belle is. Well, that buttons it up, Brownie, except for one thing. To Jim
and Belle and everyone else, we're paired.'
'Of course. Urbanity, as well as to present a united front to any and all worlds.'
'Check. So watch your shield.'
'I always do. That stuff is 'way, 'way down. I'm awfully glad you called me "Brownie", Clee. I didn't think you ever
would."
'I didn't expect to - but I never talked to a woman this way before, either. Maybe it had a mellowing effect.'
'You don't need mellowing -1 do like you a lot, just exactly as you are.'
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'If true, I'm very glad of it. But don't strain yourself; and I mean that literally, not as sarcasm.'
'I know. I'm not straining a bit, and thisll prove it.'
She kissed him again, and this time it was a production.
That was an eminently convincing demonstration, Brownie, but don't do it too often.'
'I won't.' She laughed, gaily and happily. 'If there's any next time, you'll have to kiss me first.'