"L. E. Modesitt - A House By Any Other Name" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

"No, you guys have had it coming for a long, long time. You've fought integration. You've fought
innovation. And you've created inflation for longer than anyone can remember.

"But you could have seen what was coming, Gus, if you hadn't been so short sighted."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Houseman warned you himself."

"Didn't you ever look at the way he signs his name, or the way ft appears in his ads?"

"Signs his name?"

"Uses his initials. T.O. Houseman, and he capitalizes the M"

Gus wrote it out on the `linen napkin. Then he wrote it out again.

He pushed back his chair and stood up.

"If you think we'll keep ,that agreement..."

"Cut it, Gus. You and I both know what the courts would do to you under the revised Sherman Anti
Trust Act if you broke it. And I can see the headlines now: UNION DENIES WORKERS CHEAP
HOUSING."

Gus folded the napkin carefully and laid it on the table. He reached down, picked up his glass and
drained the last of the Scotch.

"Enjoy your lunch, George. The check will go to my office." He walked steadily out of the dining room
and did not look back.

George smiled. There was more. He wanted to see Houseman at work in managing an industrial
operation. Gus hadn't considered that.

George sat at the table, debating. The waitress brought the two platters.

In good conscience, George felt, he really ought to pay the check. On the other hand...
He finished the steak sandwich. It was excellent.

Gamesmanship be damned. He let the waiter take the check for Gus.

Then he ordered the chocolate mint pie. He had that put on a separate check and sent to Mildred.