"Harry Harrison - SSR 04 - The Stainlees Steel Rat Wants You" - читать интересную книгу автора (Harrison Harry)

"Like not reporting any of your profits?" James asked innocently.

"Yes, that's the sort of thing. By hindsight it was rather foolish. We should have gone back
to robbing banks. So now we are enmeshed in their coils, playing their games, getting involved in
court actions, audits, lawyers, fines, jail terms--the whole mess. There is only one answer, one
final solution. That is why your mother went away calmly with these financial vampires. To leave
me free to cut the Gordian knot and get us out of this mess."

"What will we have to do?" they asked in eager unison.

"Destroy all of our tax records in their files, that's what. And end up broke--but free and
happy."



TWO


We sat in the darkened car and I nibbled nervously at my fingernails. "It's no good," I said
at last. "I am racked with guilt. I cannot steer two innocents into a life of crime."

There were snorts, indicating strong emotions of some kind, from the back seat. Then the doors



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were hurled open and slammed shut again just as quickly and I looked up in shocked surprise as
they both stamped away down the night-filled street. Had I driven them away? Would they attempt to
do the job on their own and bungle it? What disasters lay ahead? I was fumbling with the door
handle, trying to make my mind up, when the footsteps grew louder again, returning. I stepped out
to meet them when they came back, faces, grim and empty of humor.

"My name is James," James said, "and this is my brother, Bolivar. We are adults under law
having passed the age of eighteen. We can legally drink, smoke, curse and chase girls. We can
also, if we choose, decide to break any law or laws of any planet knowing full well that if we are
caught in crime we will have to pay the penalty. We have heard a rumor from a relative that you,
crooked Slippery Jim, are about to break the law in a singularly good cause and we want to sign up
for the job. What do you say, Dad?"

What could I say? Was that a lump in the old rat's throat, a tear forming in his rodent eye? I
hoped not; emotion and crime do not mix.

"Right," I snapped, in my best imitation of a drill sergeant with piles. "You're enlisted.
Follow instructions, ask questions only if the instructions are unclear, otherwise do what I do,
do what I say. Agreed?"

"Agreed!" they chorused.