"Mack Reynolds - Ability Quotient" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reynolds Mack)

study and took down one of the brown pills. He went to the shelves of
reference books and fiddled around for a time before coming up with the
term he wanted.

He marched over to the auto-teacher, activated the screen and said, "I
want a course in neuro-physiology."

"The next course is English Literature One, Beowulf to Chaucer."

"I'll take that one later. I want to bone up on…"

The screen lit and there was a book there. The screen voice said,
"English Literature One…"

Bert glared at it. "We'll see about this," he snarled and flicked the
screen off, taking a childish pleasure in being able to do so.

He sat there for a while, thinking about it, then got up and went over to
the desk. He sat down before the library booster screen, dialed the
National Data Banks and said, "I want a listing of books in English dealing
with neuro-physiology."

The screen said, "Please put your identity card in the slot."

"Why?" Bert demanded.

"So that we may check your priority rating, sir."

He grunted, brought his identity card out and stuck it in the slot. A
listing of books appeared on the screen. There were surprisingly few of
them and, by the titles, were aimed at the layman and on a rather
elementary level at that.

Bert said, "I am able to study on a higher level than this. I want the
latest material on the subject."

"Your priority rating is One. Such volumes are not available to your
priority rating, sir."

He dialed the National Data Banks again and said, "Information. What
is a college student's priority rating?"

The screen said, "To whom does a priority rating of One apply?"

"To the mentally retarded, convicted criminals, children below the age
of ten and those with less schooling than the fifth grade."

He closed his eyes in pain for a moment, then said, "I am Albert
Alshuler Caine, Identity Number 454-K-872-R-1245. I am a discharged
veteran of the Asian War, rank Major. Medal of Honor, Distinguished