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

hope we don’t, somebody else will handle it.” He looked at the other and considered momentarily rendering
the stereotyped-looking scientist unconscious before he left.


But he shook his head. Lord, he was tired of violence.


As he walked down the garden path to the gate, Professor LaVaux called, “By the way, your disguise. You’ll
find there are several excellent oral drugs which will darken your complexion even more effectively than your
present method.”


Almost, Warren Casey had to laugh.
He was between assignments, which was a relief. He knew he was physically as well as mentally worn. He
was going to have to take the board up on that offer of a prolonged vacation.


Taking the usual precautions in the way of avoiding possible pursuit, he returned to his own apartment. It had
been a week, what with one assignment and another, and it was a pleasure to look forward to at least a
matter of a few hours of complete relaxation.


He shed his clothing, showered, and then dressed in comfortably old clothing. He went to the tiny kitchen
and prepared a drink, finding no ice since he had unplugged the refrigerator before leaving.


Casey dropped into his reading chair and took up (he paperback he’d been reading when summoned a week
ago to duty. He had forgotten the subject. Ah, yes, a swashbuckling historical novel. He snorted inwardly. It
was all so simple. All the hero had to do was kill the evil duke in a duel and everything would resolve itself.


He caught himself up, Professor LaVaux” conversation coming back to him. Essentially, that was what
he—what the Pacifists were trying to do. By filling the equivalent of the evil duke—individuals, in other
words—they were hoping to solve the problems of the world. Nonsense, on the face of it.


He put down the novel and stared unseeing at the wall opposite. He had been an operative with the Pacifists
for more than three years now. He was, he realized, probably their senior hatchet man. An agent could hardly
expect to survive so long. It was against averages.


It was then that the screen of his telephone lit up.


Senator Phil McGivern’s face glowered at him.


Warren Casey started, stared.