"Robert A. Heinlein - A tenderfoot in space (original version)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

man?”
Charlie did not answer. Nixie felt the sadness in Charlie change
suddenly to a feeling more aggressive and
much stronger but no better. He pricked up his ears and waited.
“Chuck,” his father said, “last night I gave you a choice. Have you
made up your mind?”
“Yes, Dad.” Charlie’s voice was very low.
“Eh? Then tell me.”
Charlie looked at the tablecloth. “You and Mother go to Venus.
Nixie and I are staying here.”
Nixie could feel anger welling up in the man.. . felt him control it.
“You’re figuring on running away again?”



7
 “No, sir,” Charlie answered stubbornly. “You can sign me over to
the state school.”
“Charlie!” It was Charlie’s mother who spoke. Nixie tried to sort out
the rush of emotions impinging on him.
“Yes,” his father said at last, “I could use your passage money to pay
the state for your first three years or so, and agree to pay your
support until you are eighteen. But I shan’t.”
“Huh? Why not, Dad?”
“Because, old-fashioned as it sounds, I am head of this family. I am
responsible for it—and not just food, shelter, and clothing, but its total
welfare. Until you are old enough to take care of yourself I mean to
keep an eye on you. One of the prerogatives which go with my
responsibility is deciding where the family shall live. I have a better
job offered me on Venus than I could ever hope for here, so I’m going
to Venus—and my family goes with me.” He drummed on the table,
hesitated. “I think your chances are better on a pioneer planet, too—
but, when you are of age, if you think otherwise, I’ll pay your fare
back to Earth. But you go with us. Understand?”
Charlie nodded, his face glum.
“Very well. I’m amazed that you apparently care more for that dog
than you do for your mother—and myself. But—”
“It isn’t that, Dad. Nixie needs—”
“Quiet. I don’t suppose you realize it, but I tried to
figure this out—I’m not taking your dog away from you out of
meanness. If I could afford it, I’d buy the hound a ticket. But
something your mother said last night brought up a third possibility.”
Charlie looked up suddenly, and so did Nixie; wondering why the
surge of hope in his boy.
“I can’t buy Nixie a ticket.. . but it’s possible to ship him as freight.”
“Huh? Why, sure, Dad! Oh, I know he’d have to be caged up—but I’d
go down and feed him every day and pet him and tell him it was all
right and—”
“Slow down! I don’t mean that. All I can afford is to have him shipped
the way animals are always shipped in space ships. . . in sleep-