"C M Kornbluth - The Luckiest Man In Denv" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kornbluth C M)

The alarm roared again, in bursts that meant all clear; only one flight of missiles and that disposed of.

The Atomist and the general climbed out from under the table; May's secretary popped through the
door. The general waved him out again and leaned heavily on the table, his arms quivering. Reuben
hastily brought a chair.

"A glass of water," said May.

The Atomist brought it. He saw the general wash down what looked like a triple dose of xxx-green
capsules which it was better to leave alone.

May said after a moment: "That's better. And don't look so shocked, youngster; you don't know the
strain we're under. It's only a temporary measure which I shall discontinue as soon as things ease up a bit.
1 was saying that perhaps my good friend Rudolph plans to substitute one of his men for one of mine.
Tell me, how long has this fellow Almon been a friend of yours?"

"He struck up an acquaintance with me only last week. I should have realized-"

"You certainly should have. One week. Time enough and more. By now you've been photographed,
your fingerprints taken, your voice recorded, and your gait studied without your knowledge. Only the
retinascope is difficult, but one must risk it for a real double. Have you killed your man, Reuben?"

He nodded. It had been a silly brawl two years ago over precedence at the refectory; he disliked being
reminded of it.
"Good," said May grimly. "The way these things are done, your double kills you in a secluded spot,
disposes of your body, and takes over your role. We shall reverse it. You will kill the double and take
over his role."

The powerful, methodical voice ticked off possibilities and contingencies, measures and
countermeasures. Reuben absorbed them and felt his awe return. Perhaps May had not really been
frightened under the table; perhaps it had been he reading his own terror in the general's face. May was
actually talking to him of backgrounds and policies. "Up from the eighty-third level!" he swore to himself
as the great names were uttered.

"My good friend Rudolph, of course, wants the five stars. You would not know this, but the man who
wears the stars is now eighty years old and failing fast. I consider myself a likely candidate to replace him.
So, evidently, must Rudolph. No doubt he plans to have your double perpetrate some horrible blunder
on the eve of the election, and the discredit would reflect on me. Now what you and I must do-"

You and I-May's man Reuben and May-up from the eighty-third! Up from the bare corridors and
cheerless bedrooms to marble halls and vaulted chambers! From the clatter of the crowded refectory to
small and glowing restaurants where you had your own table arid servant and where music came softly
from the walls! Up from the scramble to win this woman or that, by wit or charm or the poor bribes you
could afford, to the eminence from which you could calmly command your pick of the beauty of Denv!
From the moiling intrigue of tripping your fellow Atomist and guarding against him tripping you to the
heroic thrust and parry of generals!