"Heinlein, Robert A - All You Zombies (2)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

"Take it easy. I know more about it than you think I
do. I can help you. I know where he is. --
He reached across the bar. -- Where is he? --
I said softly, "Let go my shirt, sonny-or you'll land
in the alley and we'll tell the cops you fainted. -- I showed
him the sap.
He let go. -- Sorry. But where is he? -- He looked at
me. -- And how do you know so much? --
"All in good time. There are records - hospital
records, orphanage records, medical records. The matron of your
orphanage was Mrs. Fetherage - right? She was followed by Mrs.
Gruenstein - right? Your name, as a girl, was "Jane" - right?
And you didn't tell me any of this - right? --
I had him baffled and a bit scared. -- What's this? You
trying to make trouble for me? --
"No indeed. I've your welfare at heart. I can put this
character in your lap. You do to him as you see fit - and I
guarantee that you'll get away with it. But I don't think
you'll kill him. You'd be nuts to - and you aren't nuts. Not
quite. --
He brushed it aside. -- Cut the noise. Where is he? --
I poured him a short one; he was drunk, but anger was
offsetting it. -- Not so fast. I do something for you - you do
something for me. --
"Uh... what? --
"You don't like your work. What would you say to high
pay, steady work, unlimited expense account, your own boss on
the job, and lots of variety and adventure? --
He stared. -- I'd say, "Get those goddam reindeer off
my roof! " Shove it, Pop - there's no such job. --
"Okay, put it this way: I hand him to you, you settle
with him, then try my job. If it's not all I claim - well, I
can't hold you. --
He was wavering; the last drink did it "When d'yuh
d'liver "im? -- he said thickly.
He shoved out his hand. -- It's a deal! "
"If it's a deal-right now! "
I nodded to my assistant to watch both ends, noted the
time - 2300 - started to duck through the gate under the bar -
when the juke box blared out: "I'm My Own Grandpaw! " The
service man had orders to load it with Americana and classics
because I couldn't stomach the "music" of 1970, but I hadn't
known that tape was in it. I called out, "Shut that off! Give
the customer his money back. -- I added, "Storeroom, back in a
moment, " and headed there with my Unmarried Mother following.
It was down the passage across from the johns, a steel
door to which no one but my day manager and myself had a key;
inside was a door to an inner room to which only I had a key.
We went there.
He looked blearily around at windowless walls. -- Where