"Mack Reynolds - Pacifist" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reynolds Mack)

The professor’s eyes flicked behind the bifocals. “I beg your pardon?”


Warren Casey said, “You’ve heard of the Pacifists, Professor?”


“Why . . . why, of course. An underground, illegal organization.” The professor added, “Quite often accused
of assassination and other heinous crimes, although I’ve been inclined to think such reports exaggerated, of
course.”
“Well, don’t,” Casey said curtly.


“I beg your pardon?”


“I’m a Pacifist operative. Professor LaVaux and I’ve been assigned to warn you to discontinue your present
research or your life will be forfeit.”


The other gaped, unable to adapt his mind to the shift in identity. Warren Casey said, “You’re evidently not
knowledgeable about our organization. Professor. I’ll brief you. We exist for the purpose of preventing further
armed conflict upon this planet. To secure that end, we are willing to take any measures. We are ruthless,
Professor. My interest is not to convert you, but solely to warn you that unless your present research is
ended you are a dead man.”


The professor protested. “See here, I’m a scientist, not a politician. My work is in pure research. What
engineers, the military and eventually the government do with applications of my discoveries is not my
concern.”


“That’s right,” Casey nodded agreeably. “Up to this point, you, like many of your colleagues, have not
concerned yourself with the eventual result of your research. Beginning now, you do. Professor, or we kill
you. You have one week to decide.”


“The Government will protect me.”


Casey shook his head. “No, Professor. Only for a time, even though they devote the efforts of a hundred
security police. Throughout history, a really devoted group, given sufficient numbers and resources, could
always successfully assassinate any person, in time.”


“That was the past,” the professor said, unconvinced. “Today, they can protect me.”


Casey was still shaking his head. “Let me show you just one tool of our trade.” He took up his camera and