"Gordon R. Dickson - Danger-Human" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dickson Gordon R)

talk to Eldridge on his regularly scheduled visits, but Eldridge showed
little interest in conversation. He lay on the cot watching the doctor as the
doctor examined him, with something in his eyes as if he looked on from
some distant place in which all decisions were already made and finished.
"You're as healthy as ever," said the doctor, concluding his examination.
He regarded Eldridge. "I wish you would, though. . . ." He broke off. "We
aren't a cruel people, you know. We don't like the necessity that makes us
do this." He paused. Eldridge considered him without stirring.
"If you'd accept that fact," said the doctor, "I'm sure you'd make it
easier on yourself. Possibly our figures of speech have given you a false
impression. We said you are immortal. Well, of course, that's not true.
Only practically speaking are you immortal. You are now capable of living
a very, very, very long time. That's all."
He paused again. After a moment of waiting, he went on.
"Just the same way, this business isn't really intended to go on for
eternity. By its very nature, of course, it can't. Even races have a finite
lifetime. But even that would be too long. No, it's just a matter of a long
time as you might live it. Eventually, everything must come to a
conclusion-that's inevitable."
Eldridge still did not speak. The doctor sighed.
"Is there anything you'd like?" he said. "We'd like to make this as little
unpleasant as possible. Anything we can give you?"
 Eldridge opened his mouth.
"Give me a boat," he said. "I want a fishing rod. I want a bottle of
applejack."
The doctor shook his head sadly. He turned and signaled the guards.
The cage door opened. He went out.
"Get me some pumpkin pie," cried Eldridge after him, sitting up on the
cot and grasping the bars as the door closed. "Give me sonic green grass in
here."
The doctor crossed the bridge. The bridge was lifted up and the monitor
screen lit up. A woolly face looked out and saw that all was well. Slowly the
outer door swung open.
"Get me some pine trees!" yelled Eldridge at the doctor's retreating
back. "Get me some plowed fields! Get me some earth, some dirt, some
plain, earth dirt! Get me that!”
The door shut behind the doctor; and Eldridge burst into laughter,
clinging to the bars, hanging there with glowing eyes.
"I would like to be relieved of this job," said the doctor to the
commander, appearing formally in the latter's office.
"I'm sorry," said the commander. "I'm very sorry. But it was our tactical
team that initiated this action; and no one has the experience with the
prisoner you have. I'm sorry."
The doctor bowed his head; and went out.


Certain mild but emotion-deadening drugs were also known to the
woolly, bearlike race. The doctor went out and began to indulge in them.
Meanwhile, Eldridge lay on his cot, occasionally smiling to himself. His
position was such that he could see out the window and over the weaving