"Gordon R. Dickson - MX Knows Best" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dickson Gordon R)

A LITTLE reluctantly, Allen turned and went. Stepping through the light wall, he found himself in a
narrow hallway that led to a miniature garden and fishpond. Beyond the garden, three men sat about a
table in a room.
"Oh, here he is," Galt said as Allen came in. "Allen, you know Jasper. This is Frank Campanelli."
Frank was a dark little rubber ball of a man, about Jasper's age, or possibly younger; Leta's brother
did not look his years. Now he nodded his silver hair at Allen. "Hello, Allen."
"Hello," answered Allen. He shook hands with Frank Campanelli, who had risen from his seat and
extended a hand as stubby and firm as the rest of his body.
"Sit down," said Jasper. "Allen, Galt knows you well and of course I've met you a number of times.
But you're a complete stranger to Frank. Mind if he asks a few questions?"
"Charge ahead," said Alien.
"What're you after?" asked Frank.
The question was so abrupt as to be discourteous, and the short man made no attempt to soften it,
either by manner or phrasing. Allen took his time about lighting a cigaret.
"I'd like to put MX out of business," he said.
"How long do you think you'll feel that way?"
"Until MX is out of business," said Allen. "Look here—"
"Why do you think it ought to be put out of business?"
"Because ninety percent of the human race has lost the guts to make up their own minds for
themselves," said Allen. "Why do you think it ought to be put out of business?"
"Well get to me later," said Frank. "How do you think we ought to go about doing it?"
"Well," said Allen, "I was hoping to try it with an ax. Maybe you've got a better idea. Have you?"
Frank didn't answer him. He turned to Jasper.
"I don't like it," he said. "I don't like anything about it. People who heat up fast can cool off fast."
"Frank," replied Jasper, calmly; "Galt tells us Allen here's been ten years coming to this."
"Why didn't he come sooner?"
"You can't have it both ways, Frank," said jasper. "Either Allen's too fast to anger, or too slow, but
not both. For my part"—he gave Allen a friendly smile—"I think he's just about right in matter of speed."
"Why," asked Allen, "all the fuss?"
"Because," snapped Frank, turning on him, "this is no game. This is serious business—"

"OH, THERE you are, Leta," interrupted Jasper. "Come in and sit down with us. You remember
Allen Morg, don't you?"
"I've just been talking to him," she said, taking one of the chairs at the table. "And I see Frank's been
talking at him."
"Seriously, though," went on Jasper, quickly, before Frank could open his mouth again. "Frank is
quite right. Most people have no idea what's been done to MX and what it's done to people."
"I can see what it's done to people," said Allen, unable to keep his eyes from straying to Leta. She
sat with her eyes on her brother, a little abstracted, as if listening partially to her own inner thought, and
did not glance at Allen.
"But do you realize the degree of it?" asked Jasper, leaning a little forward across the table. "Do you
realize how it's become something that strikes at the very heart of the concept of individual freedom? The
very thing that makes an individual in our society is his ability and preference for making his own
decisions."
The silver-haired man's tone of voice was demanding in its claim upon Allen's attention. Reluctantly,
he withdrew his eyes from Leta and looked at her brother.
"I know that," he said. "Doesn't everybody? It's obvious."
"Obvious, but how many people take it for granted just because of that? You know, the theory
behind MX was a fine one. Remember reading about it in school? A master device, a joining of the