"Harry Harrison - Rebel in Time" - читать интересную книгу автора (Harrison Harry)

'I should. After two years of Latin in college. A literal translation would be—who shall keep watch over
the guardians?'

'Right. Who shall watch the watchers? That little problem has been around for a very long time—or it
wouldn't have a Latin tagline attached to it. Policemen who take bribes are bad enough. But what about
the people who are entrusted with the security of our nation? Someone has to keep an eye on them.
Well—we're the people who have to do just that. That's what this agency is here for. You must realize
that what we do here is vital to the security of this country. Without any conceit, this is undoubtedly the
most important security operation in the land. We cannot afford to make mistakes. As the old saying
goes, the buck stops here. We have the ultimate responsibility in ensuring this nation's security because
we must watch all of the other security operatives. That is the reason why I approved your assignment to
us. There are three things in your record that I like. First, you know all about gold. Second, your security
clearance is Top Secret. Can you imagine what the third reason is?'

Troy nodded slowly. 'I think I can. Is it the fact that I blew the whistle on my CO when I caught him on
the take?'

'It is. A lot of soldiers would have looked the other way. Did you expect some special reward for doing
what you did?'

'No, admiral, I did not.' Troy held his temper under careful control. 'If anything, I expected the direct
opposite. I am pretty sure that the Army doesn't like enlisted men taking potshots at officers. But this was
special. If he had been pocketing officers' club funds or something like that, well, maybe I might have
thought twice. But this was in an MP outfit where we were working full time trying to keep drugs out of
the barracks. Our problems were not just with grass or uppers and downers, but the hard stuff, H, and it
was getting in. When I found out that my own commanding officer, the guy who was supposed to be
stopping the stuff, was getting payola from the pushers, well that was just too goddamned much.' Troy
smiled coldly. 'The last I heard he was still in Leavenworth. I was pulled out of my outfit, I expected that,
but I didn't expect to be bumped two grades and transferred to G2.'

'That was my doing. I overruled some of your officers who were thinking of doing just what you said they
would. No one has ever lost money underestimating the reflex thinking of the military. I have been
keeping a watchful eye on your career ever since. Because men like you are rare enough.' He caught
Troy's expression and smiled. 'No, sergeant, that is not an attempt at flattery but the honest truth. When I
say that I mean that I value most highly men who put their oath of loyalty before personal friendship or
job security. We need you here. I hope that after this operation is completed, that at that time you will
consider a permanent transfer. But that is still in the future. Right now I want you to turn your attention to
this operation. It is code-named George.'

He opened the file and took out a sheaf of papers, then leafed through them.

'Operation George began as a routine check. This sort of thing takes place on a regular basis, all of the
time, a routine surveillance of people with high security clearance. The subject of this particular
investigation is a United States Army colonel named Wesley McCulloch. He has a fine military record
and first class security clearance. Unmarried but, if you will pardon the expression, not unlaid. He keeps
fit, skis in the winter, surfboards in the summer. Owns a small house in Alexandria and only has a few
thousand more to go on his mortgage. All of this is very dull and ordinary stuff…'

'Except that the colonel has been buying a lot of gold.'