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

been doing with yourself.“
Hugh told him, and was required to repeat In detail all the incidents of his
more recent explorations, the Witness complaining the meanwhile over his
inability to remember exactly everything he saw.
„You youngsters have no capacity,“ he pronounced. „No capacity. Even that
lout—„ he jerked his head toward the apprentice, „he has none, though he’s a
dozen times better than you. Would you believe it, he can’t soak up a
thousand lines a day, yet he expects to sit in my seat when I am gone. Why,
when I was apprenticed, I used to sing myself to sleep on a mere thousand
lines. Leaky vessels—that’s what you are.“
Hugh did not dispute the charge, but waited for the old man to go on, which
he did in his own time.
„You had a question to put to me, lad?“
„In a way, Witness.“
„Well? Out with it. Don’t chew your tongue.“
„Did you ever climb all the way up to no-weight?“
„Me? Of course not. I was a Witness, learning my calling. I had the lines of all
the Witnesses before me to learn, and no time for boyish amusements.“
„I had hoped you could tell me what I would find there.“
„Well, now, that’s another matter. I’ve never climbed, but I hold the memories
of more climbers than you will ever see. I’m an old man. I knew your father’s
father, and his grandsire before that. What is it you want to know?“
„Well...“ What was it be wanted to know? How could he ask a question that
was no more than a gnawing ache in his breast? Still... „What is it all for,
Witness? Why are there all those levels above us?“
„Eh? How’s that? Jordan’s name, son, I’m a Witness, not a scientist.“
„Well ... I thought you must know. I’m sorry.“
„But I do know. What you want is the Lines from the Beginning.“
„I’ve heard them.“
„Hear them again. All your answers are in there, if you’ve the wisdom to see
them. Attend me. No, this is a chance for my apprentice to show off his
learning. Here, you! The Lines from the Beginning—and mind your rhythm.“
The apprentice wet his lips with his tongue and began:
„In the Beginning there was Jordan, thinking His lonely thoughts alone. In the
Beginning there was darkness, formless, dead, and Man unknown. Out of the
loneness came a longing, out of the longing came a vision, Out of the dream
there came a planning, out of the plan there came decision: Jordan’s hand
was lifted and the Ship was born.
Mile after mile of snug compartments, tank by tank for the golden corn,
Ladder and passage, door and locker, fit for the needs of the yet unborn. He
looked on His work and found it pleasing, meet for a race that was yet to be.
He thought of Man; Man came into being; checked his thought and searched
for the key. Man untamed would shame his Maker, Man unruled would spoil
the Plan; So Jordan made the Regulations, orders to each single man, Each
to a task and each to a station, serving a purpose beyond their ken, Some to
speak and some to listen; order came to the ranks of men. Crew He created
to work at their stations, scientists to guide the Plan. Over them all He
created the Captain, made him judge of the race of Man. Thus it was in the
Golden Age!
Jordan is perfect, all below him lack perfection in their deeds. Envy, Greed,