"Robert A. Heinlein - Methuselahs Children" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

„Marry you? Never!“
„Aw, Mary-you’re upset. Give me just one good reason why not?“
„I’ll tell you why! Because I am one of those people you want to
persecute!“
There was another pause. „Mary . . . you’re not well.“
„Not well, am I? I am as well as a person can be at my age. Listen to me, you
fool! I have grandsons twice your age. I was here when the First Prophet took
over the country. I was here when Harriman launched the first Moon rocket.
You weren’t even a squalling brat-your grandparents hadn’t even met, when I
was a woman grown and married. And you stand there and glibly propose to
push around, even to torture, me and my kind. Marry you? I’d rather marry
one of my own grandchildren!“
Lazarus shifted his weight and slid his right hand inside the flap of his kilt; he
expected trouble at once. You can depend on a woman, he reflected, to blow
her top at the wrong moment.
He waited. Bork’s answer was cool; the tones of the experienced man of
authority replaced those of thwarted passion. „Take it easy, Mary. Sit down,
I’ll look after you. First I want you to take a sedative. Then I’ll get the best
psychotherapist in the city-in the whole country. You’ll be all right.“
„Take your hands off me!“
„Now, Mary . . .
Lazarus stepped out into the room and pointed at Vanning with his blaster.
„This monkey giving you trouble, Sis?“
Vanning jerked his head around. „Who are you?“ he demanded indignantly.
„What are you doing here?“
Lazarus still addressed Mary. „Say the word, Sis, and I’ll cut him into pieces
small enough to hide.“
„No, Lazarus,“ she answered with her voice now under control. „Thanks just
the same. Please put your gun away. I wouldn’t want anything like that to
happen.“
„Okay.“ Lazarus holstered the gun but let his hand rest on the grip.
„Who are you?“ repeated Vanning. „What’s the meaning of this intrusion?“
„I was just about to ask you that, Bud,“ Lazarus said mildly, „but we’ll let it
ride. I’m another one of those old Johnnies you’re looking for . . . like Mary
here.“
Vanning looked at him keenly. „I wonder-„ he said. He looked back at Mary.
„It can’t be, it’s preposterous. Still it won’t hurt to investigate your story. I’ve
plenty to detain you on, in any event, I’ve never seen a clearer case of
antisocial atavism.“ He moved toward the videophone.
„Better get away from that phone, Bud,“ Lazarus said quickly, then added to
Mary, „I won’t touch my gun, Sis. I’ll use my knife.“
Vanning stopped. „Very well,“ he said in annoyed tones, „put away that
vibroblade. I won’t call from here.“
„Look again, it ain’t a vibroblade. It’s steel. Messy.“
Vanning turned to Mary Sperling. „I’m leaving. If you are wise, you’ll come
with me.“ She shook her head. He looked annoyed, shrugged, and faced
Lazarus Long. „As for you, sir, your primitive manners have led you into
serious trouble. You will be arrested shortly.“
Lazarus glanced up at the ceiling shutters. „Reminds me of a patron in
Venusburg who wanted to have me arrested.“