"Robert A. Heinlein - Orphans of the Sky " - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

His uncle chuckled. „You’ll find your death In those passageways, lad. Better
you should pay more attention to my business against the day when I die and
get out of your way.“
Hugh looked stubborn. „Don’t you have any curiosity, Uncle?“
„Me? Oh, I was prying enough when I was a lad. I followed the main passage
all the way around and back to the village. Right through the Dark Sector I
went, with muties tagging my heels. See that scar?“
Hugh glanced at it perfunctorily. He had seen it many times before and heard
the story repeated to boredom. Once around the Ship, pfft! He wanted to go
everywhere, see everything, and find out the why of things. Those upper
levels now: if men were not intended to climb that high, why had Jordan
created them?
But he kept his own counsel and went on with his meal. His uncle changed
the subject. „I’ve occasion to visit the Witness. John Black claims I owe him
three swine. Want to come along?“
„Why, no, I guess not—Wait! I believe I will.“
„Hurry up, then.“
They stopped at the cadets’ barracks, Hugh claiming an errand. The Witness
lived in a small, smelly compartment directly across the Common from the
barracks, where he would be readily accessible to any who had need of his
talents. They found him leaning in his doorway, picking his teeth with a
fingernail. His apprentice, a pimply-faced adolescent with an intent
nearsighted expression, squatted behind him.
„Good eating.“ said Hugh’s uncle.
„Good eating to you, Edard Hoyland. D’you come on business, or to
keep an old man company?“
„Both,“ Hugh’s uncle returned diplomatically, then explained his errand.
„So,“ said the Witness. „Well, the contract’s clear enough. Black John
delivered ten bushels of oats, Expecting his pay in a pair of shoats; Ed
brought his sow to breed for pig; John gets his pay when the pigs grow big.
„How big are the pigs now, Edard Hoyland?“
„Big enough,“ acknowledged Hugh’s uncle, „but Black John claims
three instead of two.“
„Tell him to go soak his head. The Witness has spoken.“
He laughed in a thin, high cackle.
The two gossiped for a few minutes, Edard Hoyland digging into his recent
experiences to satisfy the old man’s insatiable liking for details. Hugh kept
decently silent while the older men talked. But when his uncle turned to go he
spoke up. „I’ll stay awhile, Uncle.“
„Eh? Suit yourself. Good eating, Witness.“
„Good eating, Edard Hoyland.“
„I’ve brought you a present, Witness,“ said Hugh, when his uncle had
passed out of hearing.
„Let me see it.“
Hugh produced a package of tobacco which he had picked up from his locker
at the barracks. The Witness accepted it without acknowledgment, then
tossed it to his apprentice, who took charge of it.
„Come inside,“ invited the Witness, then directed his speech to his
apprentice. „Here, you, fetch the cadet a chair.“
„Now, lad,“ he added as they sat themselves down, „tell me what you have