"Frank Herbert - The Nothing" - читать интересную книгу автора (Herbert Brian & Frank)

That struck my father funny. When he could stop laughing he said, 'I know you, honey. I've
watched your think tank pretty close. You'll take care of yourself and no funny business. Do
they have nice safe quarters for you up there?'
'The safest,' I said.
I felt him take another prod at my blanket and withdraw. 'Government work is top secret,' I
said.
'Sure. I understand,' he said.
So I went to my room and got my things packed. The folks made some more fuss about my
going away so sudden, but they quieted down when I told them I had to go at once or lose
the chance at the job.
Papa finally said, 'Well, if the government isn't safe, then nothing is.'
They kissed me goodbye and I promised to write and to visit home on my first free
weekend.
'Don't worry, Papa,' I said.
The jet buggy took me back to the preserve. When I went into the office, Claude, my
husband, was sitting across the desk from his father.
The old man had his hands to his forehead and there were beads of perspiration showing
where the fingers didn't cover. Presently, he lowered his hands and shook his bead.
'Well?' asked Claude.
'Not a thing,' said the old man.
I moved a little bit into the room but they didn't notice me.
'Tell me the truth, Dad,' said Claude. 'How far ahead did you see us?'
Old Mensor Williams lowered his head and sighed. 'All right, son,' he said. 'You deserve the
truth. I saw you meet Miss Carlysle at the Tavern and not another thing. We had to trace her
by old-fashioned methods and compare your gene lines like I said. The rest is truth. You know
I wouldn't lie to you.'
I cleared my throat and they both looked at me.
Claude jumped out of his chair and faced me. 'We can get an annulment,' he said. 'No one
has the right to play with other peoples' lives like that.'
He looked so sweet and little-boy-like standing there. I knew suddenly I didn't want an
annulment I said, 'The younger generation has to accept its responsibilities sometime.'
Mensor Williams got an eager look in his eyes. I turned to the old man, said, 'Was that
seventy percent figure correct?'
'Absolutely correct, my dear,' he said. 'We've checked every marriageable female he's met
because he carries my family's dominant line. Your combination was the best. Far higher than
we'd hoped for.'
'Is there anything else you can tell us about our future?' I asked.
He shook his head. 'It's all cloudy,' he said. 'You're on your own.'
I got that creepy feeling again and looked up at my husband. Little laugh wrinkles creased
at the corners of Claude's eyes and he smiled. Then another thought struck me. If we were on
our own, that meant we were shaping our own future. It wasn't fixed. And no nosey prescient
could come prying in on us, either. A woman kind of likes that idea. Especially on her wedding
night.