"Rob Swigart - AKA" - читать интересную книгу автора (Swigart Rob)

"Affirmative. Press corps, relatives, representatives of foreign governments, government
officials. The President."
"Oh, God. The President. That's when he disappeared?"
"I perceive query in your tone. Affirmative."
"Didn't we have any control?"
"Augenblaue AeroSpace is private industry. Government has no control."
"But surely there were laws? Laws that were broken?"
"None to cover what happened."
"Will he return?"
"In seven minutes, twenty-three seconds. According to Dr. Ambrose Merkin, head of
Augenblaue AeroSpace research."
"What will be the effect on the world of this return, which my agents think significant
enough to be reported to me directly? And to the President, Most Secret?"
"The effect will be enormous, but unknown. There are, throughout the world, over one
billion members of the AKA Clubs. All of them are waiting for Avery's return. Statistical
predictions for various eventualities indicate skews in several significant directions."
"For instance?"
"Should, for example, Avery not return, a Sino-Soviet War: 87 percent probability. Northern
California, Oregon, and the southern half of Washington certain to attempt secession from the
Union."
"OK, OK. There will be effects. What should we do?"
"Beep."
"No answer?"
 "I cannot answer that, Mr. Director. I am only a machine incapable of giving judgment. You
will have to decide for yourself."
"The President is on my ass about this. I have to tell him something. I need more data. Give
me more data."
"Beep."
"No answer?"
"You did not ask a question, and the command was too imprecise."
"Very well. I'll look into it. Terminate program."
"Program terminated. Good night, Mr. Director."
Oh, boy, thought the Director, leaning back in his chair again. He locked his hands behind
his head and stared out at the sun dipping like a stale doughnut into the sour coffee of the
Potomac. Oh, boy.
PART 1/ TEN YEARS



The social ramble ain't restful.

- Leroy R. 'Satchel' Paige
1/ Humble Pie

"YOU LOOK FAMILIAR," said Ambrose Merkin. "I can't quite place you, but I'd swear
I've seen you somewhere before."
"I used to be in the navy." Constantine Hubble had tightly curled blond hair and finely
chiseled if somewhat bland features.
"Oh, well, never mind. What can I do for you?" Ambrose leaned back in his chair. He had
large gray muttonchop whiskers and a pair of heavy, black-framed glasses pushed up on top of