"Robert A. Heinlein - The Green Hills of Earth (Collected Stor" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

still hear her; she didn't switch off. "Why, you big baboon, I came outside
because you sent a search party to clear everybody out," and, "How would I
know about a safety line rule? You've kept me penned up." And finally, "We'll
see!"
I dragged him away and he told the boss electrician to go ahead. Then
we forgot the row for we were looking at the prettiest fireworks ever seen, a
giant St. Catherine's wheel, rockets blasting all over it. Utterly soundless, out
there in space-but beautiful beyond compare.
The blasts died away and there was the living quarters, spinning true as
a flywheel-Tiny and I both let out sighs of relief. We all went back inside then
to see what weight tasted like.
It tasted funny. I went through the shaft and started down the ladders,
feeling myself gain weight as I neared the rim. I felt seasick, like the first time
I experienced no weight. I could hardly walk and my calves cramped.
7
 We inspected throughout, then went to the office and sat down. It felt
good, just right for comfort, one-third gravity at the rim. Tiny rubbed his chair
arms and grinned, "Beats being penned up in D-113."
"Speaking of being penned up," Miss Gloria said, walking in, "may I
have a word with you, Mr. Larsen?"
"Uh? Why, certainly. Matter of fact, I wanted to see you. I owe you an
apology, Miss McNye.'I was-"
"Forget it," she cut in. "You were on edge. But I want to know this: how
long are you going to keep up this nonsense, of trying to chaperone me?"
He studied her. "Not long. Just till your relief arrives."
"So? Who is the shop steward around here?"
"A shipfitter named McAndrews. But you can't use him. You're a staff
member."
"Not in the job I'm filling. I am going to talk to him. You're discriminating
against me, and in my off time at that."
"Perhaps, but you will find I have the authority. Legally I'm a ship's
captain, while on this job. A captain in space has wide discriminatory
powers."
"Then you should use them with discrimination!" He grinned. "Isn't that
what you just said I was doing?" We didn't hear from the shop steward, but
Miss Gloria started doing as she pleased. She showed up at the movies, next
off shift, with Dalrymple. Tiny left in the middle-good show, too; Lysistrata
Goes to Town, relayed up from New York.
As she was coming back alone he stopped her, having seen to it that I
was present. "Umm-Miss McNye. . . ."
"Yes?"
"I think you should know, uh, well...Chief Inspector Dalrymple is a
married man."
"Are you suggesting that my conduct has been improper?"
"No, but-"
"Then mind your own business!" Before he could answer she added, "It
might interest you that he told me about your four children."
Tiny sputtered. "Why. . . why, I'm not even married!"
"So? That makes it worse, doesn't it?" She swept out.
Tiny quit trying to keep her in her room, but told her to notify him