"Eric Frank Russel - The Space Willies" - читать интересную книгу автора (Russell Eric Frank)

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if expecting to be stabbed in the back.
"Haven't you been taught to knock before you enter?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then why didn't you?"
"I forgot, sir. My mind was occupied with the interview
I've just had with Fleet Admiral Markham."
"Did he send you to me?"
"Yes, sir."
"Oh, so you're the long-range reconnaissance pilot, eh? I
don't suppose Commodore Keen will be sorry to see you go.
You've been somewhat of a thorn in his side, haven't you?"
"It would seem that way, sir. But I joined the forces to
help win a war and for no other purpose. I am not a juve-
nile delinquent called up for reformation by the commodore
or by anyone else."
"He'd disagree with you there. He's a stickler for disci-
pline." Farmer let go a chuckle at some secret joke, added,
"Keen by name and keen by nature." He contemplated the
other a short while, went on more soberly, "You've picked
yourself a tough job."
"That doesn't worry me," Leeming said flatly.
"You might never come back."
"Makes little difference. Eventually we all take a ride
from which we never come back."
"Well, you needn't mention it with such ghoulish satisfac-
tion," Farmer complained. "Are you married?"
"No, sir. Whenever I get the urge, I just lie down quietly
until the feeling passes off."
Farmer eyed the ceiling and said, "God!"
"What did you expect?" asked Leeming, displaying a cer-
tain aggressiveness. "A scout-pilot operates single-handed; he
has to learn to dispense with a lot of things, especially com-
panionship. It's surprising how much a man can do without
if he really tries."
"I'm sure," soothed Farmer. He gestured toward the star-
map. "On that the nearest points of light are arrayed across
the enemy's front. The mist of stars behind them are un-
known territory. The Combine may be far weaker than we
think because its front is wafer-thin. Or it may be more pow-
erful because its authority stretches far to the rear. The only
way to find out exactly what we're up against is to effect a
deep penetration through the enemy's spatial lines."
Leeming said nothing.
"We propose to send a special scout-ship through this
area where occupied worlds lie far apart; the Combine's
defenses are somewhat scattered here, and their detector
devices are relatively sparse." Farmer put his finger on a dark
patch on the map. "With the speed your vessel possesses