"Robert A. Heinlein - Starman Jones" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

"Hurry up, Maxie!" Maw called out. "Don't stand there like a dummy." Max
reluctantly moved along and joined them. Maw said, "Maxie, shake hands with
your new father," then looked roguish, as if she had said something witty. Max
stared and his mouth sagged open.
Montgomery grinned and stuck out a hand. "Yep, Max, you're Max
Montgomery now--I'm your new pop. But you can call me Monty."
Max stared at the hand, took it briefly. "My name is Jones," he said
flatly.
"Maxie!" protested Maw.
Montgomery laughed jovially. "Don't rush him, Nellie my love. Let Max
get used to it. Live and let live; that's my motto." He turned to his wife.
"Half a mo', while I get the baggage." From one saddlebag of the unicycle he
extracted a wad of mussed clothing; from the other, two flat pint bottles.
Seeing Max watching him he winked and said, "A toast for the bride."
His bride was standing by the door; he started to brush on past her. She
protested, "But Monty darling, aren't you going to--"
Montgomery stopped. "Oh. I haven't much experience in these things.
Sure." He turned to Max--"Here, take the baggage"--and shoved bottles and
clothes at him. Then he swung her up in his arms, grunting a bit, and carried
her over the threshold, put her down and kissed her while she squealed and
blushed. Max silently followed them, put the items on the table and turned to
the stove. It was cold, he had not used it since breakfast. There was an
electric range but it had burned out before his father had died and there had
never been money to repair it. He took out his pocket knife, made shavings,
added kindling and touched the heap with an Everlite. When it flared up he
went out to fetch a pail of water.
When he came back Montgomery said, "Wondered where you'd gone. Doesn't
this dump even have running water?"
"No." Max set the pail down, then added a couple of chunks of cord wood
to the fire.
His Maw said, "Maxie, you should have had dinner ready."
Montgomery interceded pleasantly with, "Now, my dear, he didn't know we
were coming. And it leaves time for a toast." Max kept his back to them,
giving his full attention to slicing side meat. The change was so overwhelming
that he had not had time to take it in.
Montgomery called to him. "Here, son! Drink your toast to the bride."
"I've got to get supper."
"Nonsense! Here's your glass. Hurry up."
Montgomery had poured a finger of amber liquid into the glass; his own
glass was half full and that of his bride at least a third. Max accepted it
and went to the pail, thinned it with a dipper of water.
"You'll ruin it."
"I'm not used to it."
"Oh, well. Here's to the blushing bride--and our happy family! Bottoms
up!"
Max took a cautious sip and put it down. It tasted to him like the
bitter tonic the district nurse had given him one spring. He turned back to
his work, only to be interrupted again. "Hey, you didn't finish it."
"Look, I got to cook. You don't want me to burn supper, do you?"
Montgomery shrugged. "Oh, well--the more for the rest of us. We'll use