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

„Why, uh—I don’t know, sir. I guess I want to, and her father is willing, I think.
Only...“
„Only what?“
„Well, he wants me to apprentice to his farm. I suppose it’s a good idea. His
farm together with my uncle’s business would make a good property.“
„But you’re not sure?“
„Well, I don’t know.“
„Correct. You’re not for that. I have other plans. Tell me, have you ever
wondered why I taught you to read and write? Of course, you have. But
you’ve kept your own counsel. That is good.
„Now attend me. I’ve watched you since you were a small child. You have
more imagination than the common run, more curiosity, more go. And you
are a born leader. You were different even as a baby. Your head was too
large, for one thing, and there were some who voted at your birth inspection
to put you at once into the Converter. But I held them off. I wanted to see
how you would turn out.
„A peasant life is not for the likes of you. You are to be a scientist.“
The old man paused and studied his face. Hugh was confused, speechless.
Nelson went on, „Oh, yes. Yes, indeed. For a man of your temperament,
there are only two things to do with him: Make him one of the custodians, or
send him to the Converter.“
„Do you mean, sir, that I have nothing to say about it?“
„If you want to put it that bluntly, yes. To leave the bright ones among the
ranks of the Crew is to breed heresy. We can’t have that. We had it once and
it almost destroyed tbe human race. You have marked yourself out by your
exceptional ability; you must now be instructed in right thinking, be initiated
into the mysteries, in order that you may be a conserving force rather than a
focus of infection and a source of trouble.“ The orderly reappeared loaded
down with bundles which he dumped on the deck. Hugh glanced at them,
then burst out, „Why, those are my things!“
„Certainly,“ acknowledged Nelson. „I sent for them. You’re to sleep here
henceforth. I’ll see you later and start you on your studies, unless you have
something more on your mind?“
„Why, no, sir. I guess not. I must admit I am a little confused. I suppose ... I
suppose this means you don’t want me to marry?“
„Oh, that,“ Nelson answered indifferently. „Take her if you like; her father
can’t protest now. But let me warn you, you’ll grow tired of her.“

Hugh Hoyland devoured the ancient books that his mentor permitted him to
read, and felt no desire for many, many sleeps to go climbing, or even to stir
out of Nelson’s cabin. More than once he felt that he was on the track of the
secret—a secret as yet undefined, even as a question—but again he would
find himself more confused than ever. It was evidently harder to reach the
wisdom of scientisthood than he had thought.
Once, while he was worrying away at the curious twisted characters of the
ancients and trying to puzzle out their odd rhetoric and unfamiliar terms,
Nelson came into the little compartment that had been set aside for him, and,
laying a fatherly hand on his shoulder, asked, „How goes it, boy?“
„Why, well enough, sir, I suppose,“ he answered, laying the book aside.
„Some of it is not quite clear to me—not clear at all, to tell the truth.“