"Gordon R. Dickson - The Dreamsman" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dickson Gordon R)

"Coming!" replies a young baritone. Seconds later a tall, quite thin man about the same age as his wife,
with a cheer-fully unhandsome face, emerges rapidly into the living room.
"The insurance man, honey," says the young lady, who has whisked off her apron while Mr. Wilier was
turned to face the entrance through which the young man has come. She hands her husband the card.

"Insurance?" says young Mr. Conalt frowning, reading the card. "What insurance? Liberty Mutual? But I
don't— we don't have any policies with Liberty Mutual. If you're selling—"

"Not at the moment," says Mr. Wilier, beaming at them as well as the looseness of his false teeth will
permit. "I actually am an insurance agent, but that hasn't anything to do with this. I only wanted to see
you first."

"First before what?" demands Mr. Conalt, staring hard at him.

"Before revealing myself," says Mr. Wilier. "You are the two young people who have been broadcasting
a call to any other psi-sensitives within range, aren't you?"

"Oh, Hank!" gasps Mrs. Conalt; but Conalt does not un-bend.

"What are you talking about?" he demands.

"Come, come," replies Mr. Wilier deprecatingly.

"But, Hank—" begins Mrs. Conalt.

"Hush, Edie. I think this guy—"

"Oh, wad the power the Giftie gie us, to see oorselves as ithers see us—more or less, if you young
people will pardon the accent."

"What's that? That's Robert Burns, isn't it," says Hank. "It goes—it would frae mony an error free us."
He hesi-tates.

"And foolish notion. Yes," says Mr. Wilier. "And now that the sign and counter-sign have been given, let
us get down to facts. You were broadcasting, both of you, were you not?"

"Were you receiving?" demands Hank.

"Of course," says Mr. Wilier unperturbed. "How else would I know what quotation to use for a
password?" He beams at them again. "May I sit down?"

"Oh, of course!" says Edie hastily. They all sit down. Edie bounces up again. "Would you like some
coffee, Mr. —er—" she glances over at the card, still in Hank's hands —"Wilier?"

"Thank you, no," replies Mr. Wilier, clacking his teeth. "I have one cup of coffee a day, after dinner. I
believe in moderation of diet. But to the point. You are the people I heard."

"Say we were," says Hank finally. "You claim to be psi-sensitive yourself, huh?"