"Robert A. Heinlein - Space Family Stone" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

know, Roger, I was thinking just the other day how caamped this apartment
is. And we haven’t been any place, as Meade says, since we got back from
Venus.’
Mr Stone stared. ‘You too? Edith, this apartment is bigger than any ship
compartment; you know that.’
‘Yes, but a ship seems bigger. In free fall one gets so much more use out of
the room.’
‘My deer, do I undersand that you are supporting this junket?’
‘Oh’ not at all! I was speaking in general terms. But you do sleep better
aboard ship. You never snore in free fall.’
‘I do not snore!’
Dr Stone did not answer. Hazel snickered. Pollux caught Castor’s eye and
Castor nodded; the two slipped quietly away to their own room. It was a lot of
trouble to get mother involved in a family argument, but worth the effort;
nothing important was ever decided until she joined in.
Meade tapped on their door a little later; Castor let her in and looked her
over; she was dressed in the height of fashion for the American Old West.
‘Square dancing again, huh?’
‘Eliminations tonight. Look here, Cas, even if Daddy breaks loose from the
money you two might be stymied by being underage for an unlimited license -
right?’
‘We figure on a waiver. They had also discussed blasting off without a
waiver, but it did not seem the time to mention it.


13
‘But you might not get it. Just bear in mind that I will be eighteen next week.
Bve now!’
‘Good night.’
When she had gone Pollux said, ‘That’s silly. She hasn’t even taken her
limited license.’
‘No, but she’s had astrogation in school and we could coach her.’
‘Cas, you’re crazy. We can’t drag her all around the system; girls are a
nuisance.’
‘You’ve got that wrong, Junior. You mean “sisters” - girls are okay.’
Pollux considered this. ‘Yeah, I guess you’re right.’ ‘I’m always right.’
‘Oh, so? How about the time you tried to use liquid air to -‘
‘Let’s not be petty!’
Grandmother Hazel stuck her head in next. ‘Just a quick battle report, boys.
Your father is groggy but still fighting gamely.’
‘Is he going to let us use the money?’
‘Doesn’t look like it, as now. Tell me, how much did Ekizian ask you for that
Detroiter?’
Castor told her; she whistled. ‘The gonoph,’ she said softly. ‘That unblushing
groundhog - I’ll have his license lifted.’
‘Oh, we didn’t agree to pay it.’
‘Don’t sign with him at all unless I’m at your elbow. I know where the body is
buried.’
‘Okay. Look, Hazel, you really think a Detroiter VII is unstable?’
She wrinkled her brow. ‘Its gyros are too light for the ship’s moment of inertia.