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

„No, no, such a contract would be void, against public policy. We are simply
informing you, as administrators of a trust, that should it come about that you
do marry one of the young ladies on this list it would then be our pleasant
duty to endow each child of such a union according to the scale here set
forth. But there would be no Contract with us involved, nor is there any
‚proposition’ being made to you-and we certainly do not urge any course of
action on you. We are simply informing you of certain facts.“
Ira Johnson scowled and shuffled his feet. „What’s it all about? Why?“
„That is the business of the Foundation. One might put it that we approve of
your grandparents.“
„Have you discussed me with them?“ Johnson said sharply.
He felt no affection for his grandparents. A tight-fisted foursome-if any one of
them had had the grace to die at a reasonable age he would not now be
worried about money enough to finish medical school.
„We have talked with them, yes. But not about you.“
The lawyer shut off further discussion and young Johnson accepted
gracelessly a list of young women, all strangers, with the intention of tearing it
up the moment he was outside the office. Instead, that night he wrote seven
drafts before he found the right words in which to start cooling off the relation
between himself and his girl back home. He was glad that he had never
actually popped the question to her-it would have been deucedly awkward.
When he did marry (from the list) it seemed a curious but not too remarkable
coincidence that his wife as well as himself had four living, healthy, active
grandparents.
„-an openly chartered non-profit corporation,“ Foote continued, „and its
avowed purpose of encouraging births among persons of sound American
stock was consonant with the customs of that century. By the simple
expedient of being closemouthed about the true purpose of the Foundation
no unusual methods of concealment were necessary until late in that period
during the World Wars sometimes loosely termed ‚The Crazy Years—‚“

Selected headlines April to June 1969:
BABY BILL BREAKS BANK
2-year toddler youngest winner $1,000,000 TV jackpot
White House phones congrats


COURT ORDERS STATEHOUSE SOLD
Colorado Supreme Bench Rules State Old Age Pension Has
First Lien All State Property
N.Y. YOUTH MEET DEMANDS UPPER LIMIT ON FRANCHISE
„U.S. BIRTH RATE ‚TOP SECRET!’“-DEFENSE SEC

CAROLINA CONGRESSMAN COPS BEAUTY CROWN
„Available for draft for President“ she announces while
starting tour to show her qualifications
IOWA RAISES VOTING AGE TO FORTY-ONE
Rioting on Des Moines Campus