"C. M. Kornbluth & Donald A. Wollheim - The Mask of Demeter" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kornbluth C M)

"But how can you get detailed atmospheric readings from a star? And, by the way, just where is
Demeter—in what constellation?"
Brewster opened his mouth and closed it again several times. At last he gasped: "I—I don't
understand. I mean Demeter—the Demeter. It's the only one I know of."
"Well, where is it?" barked the Canadian, baffled.
"Right where it always was, I presume," said Brewster loftily. "Between the orbits of Earth and
Mars."
"An asteroid?" asked the gentleman from McGill. "There is an asteroid named Demeter, but it isn't
where you say it is, and it's only a miserable score miles in diameter—and anyone who suggests it has an
atmosphere is a fool!"
"Hardly!" said Brewster, laying his paper down on the lectern. "That Demeter—if there is such a silly
duplication of names—isn't the one I mean—and you know it! You don't call a planet two-thirds the size
of Earth an asteroid, sir,—whoever you are!"
"I," yelled the Canadian, "am Cullogh, associate professor of astronomy at McGill University."
"And I, Mr. Cullogh, am Brewster—full professor of astronomy at the Vernier Institute of
Technology. If you will allow me to continue—" He stared at the Canadian until the man simply slumped
into his seat.
Said the botanist from Yale: "Mr. Cullogh, I think you're quite right."
Cullogh stared at him. "I know I'm right. You can't pull planets out of your hat!" But Brewster, who
had seemed to have done just that, continued with his fantastic paper on a major planet that nobody had
ever heard of.
There was a great deal of buzzing from the rear of the stage where the officers of the International
Scientific Association were seated. Finally, they rose in concert and advanced on Brewster.
"Excuse me, doctor," said the Vice President, laying a firm hand on the astronomer's shoulder.
"This session is adjourned," announced the President. "Reconvene at eight promptly tonight for
appointment of a publications committee. Please leave quietly without discussion."

The hall emptied in a few minutes and the Vice President unhanded Dr. Brewster, who sputtered
incoherently for a few minutes, then pulled his dignity and his scattered typescript together. "Will you be
good enough," he snarled, "to explain the meaning of this uncalled-for interference with my dignity and
reputation?"
"I don't think," said a brash young corresponding secretary, "that you have much of either left after
reading that nightmare of yours. What's the idea? Doing an act to get some publicity?"
Dr. Brewster, with an animal snarl, lunged at the corresponding secretary and would probably have
torn his throat out if the young man had not hit him squarely on the jaw.
"You killed him!" gasped the President.
"Don't be foolish," said the secretary, rubbing his knuckles. "He'll come to." He propped the doctor
up in a chair and massaged the back of his neck in the usual ring-side manner. Dr. Brewster opened his
eyes and worked his jaw, then burst into tears.
"There, there," said the Vice President. He went to the switchboard at the side of the stage and
economically turned out the house lights, leaving only the overhead borders.
Brewster sobbed: "What is the matter with everybody? I begin to read a paper about Demeter and
you all jump on me!"
The officers looked blankly at one another. "What was that about Demeter?" asked the President. "I
mean, what is it?"
The astronomer stopped weeping long enough to look wildly at the officer. "You're insane!" he
shrilled. "You're all mad! Either that or you're railroading me!"
The Vice President took him by the arm, helping him to his feet. "When did you first hear of this
Demeter?" he asked.
"Hear of it? It's one of the ten planets, man! It's one of the planets the Assyrians knew all about!