"Mack Reynolds - Day After Tomorrow" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reynolds Mack)

"I thought it was necessary," Simonov said. "A thing like that can get
out of control, can spread like wildfire, can grow like a geometric
progression. And if we allowed such action to the miners, who can say
where else free unions might not spring up?

"Yes, yes, of course, Ilya," his boss said. "You can always be counted
upon to take the correct action." He finished off his second vodka, then
looked over at his favorite field man. He said, "How long has it been since
you have been in the United States?"

Simonov thought back. "Perhaps as much as ten years." He cleared his
throat. "I am not exactly popular in America."

The Chrezvychainaya Komissiya head chuckled heavily. "No, of course
not. The last time we retrieved you only by making a swap with the C.I.A.
Two of their arrested agents for you." He chuckled again. "It was a
bargain, especially since one of their two was a double agent that they
didn't get onto for almost three years. But at any rate, this will be a
milk-run, as the Yankees call it. There should be no danger."

Simonov contemplated his superior quizzically.

"Most likely," Blagonravov said, "it could be handled by the attach es at
the Embassy in Greater Washington. However, I trust you most explicitly,
and want your experienced opinion."

His field man waited for him to go on.

The minister leaned back in his chair and looked thoughtful. He said
slowly, "There is the danger of a very fundamental change taking place in
America."

"A fundamental change, Kliment?" the operative said. He was the only
man in the ministry who dared call the chief by his first name.

"Yes, a very basic change, if our meager information is correct."

"Good!"

"No, bad. It is a change we do not wish to see, if I have any idea
whatsoever about what is going on, and I sometimes wonder."

His trouble shooter waited patiently.

"In the way of background," the minister said, “let me go back a bit.
The situation that prevails in the States these days had its roots back
possibly in the last century. The tendency has been accelerating, and,
frankly, it is to the advantage of the Soviet Complex to have it continue to
accelerate."