"Philip E. High - These Savage Futurians" - читать интересную книгу автора (High Phillip E)

The identity disc bore no writing or symbols. It was a circle of metal
into which had been punched a large number of holes. The questioner ran
blunt brown fingers across its surface. The holes, varying in size and
arrangement, gave a complete picture of the disc's owner-ROBERT
VENTNOR. AGE 27. AGRICULTURAL LABORER. UNMARRIED.
PSYCHIATRIC CLASSIFICATION 225/9/446. At the side of the disc three
separate perforations gave a psycho-genetic warning-P/D/G.

Venrnor's father had been destroyed for gadgeteering and it was
apparent that this tendency had been carried forward to the next
generation. Worse, although latent, the characteristic was predominant
and increasing. The questioner had already decided that something must
be done about it.

"Where are you going?"

"To Gret."

That is not your village."

"True, but there is a girl—"

"It is unwise to pursue the women of other villages."

"There is no law against it, Padre."

"And no law to protect you if the males of that village take offence at
your intrusion." The Padre turned abruptly and walked away. A squat
man, wearing the traditional black of his kind, with a curious circle of
unbroken white about his throat, he wore also a round hat with an
up-curled brim which never seemed to leave his head.

Ventnor watched him go with a feeling of relief. He had heard that
Padres, long ago, had been men of honor, healers and dispensers of
mystery. Today, however, they were watchdogs, spies and the
administrators of summary justice.

He turned slowly in case the Padre was still watching and began to
trudge in the direction of Gret. He was, in truth, neither slow nor halting
of speech but he had carefully cultivated these mannerisms since the age
of eighteen.

His father had been voluble, swift of movement, eager and inquisitive.
Characteristics which, in the long run, had killed him or, at least, helped.

Ventnor senior had been clever with his hands and instead of confining
himself to simple carpentry had improvised and created. Nothing
startling, an original door-catch, a planting implement, a
swing-hinge—enough to set him apart as a gadgeteer, enough for them to