"Eric Frank Russell - With a Strange Device" - читать интересную книгу автора (Russell Eric Frank)

`It will add to the interest,' said Berg, patting it fondly.
 `Have it your own way.' Bransome pondered in silence awhile, then said, `Now that I come to think of
it, this place has been getting its knocks of late.'



Anything regarded as a burden upon the taxpayer is sure to be kicked from time to time,' offered Berg.
`There's always somebody ready to howl about the expenditure.'



`I wasn't considering the latest cost-cutting rigmarole. I was thinking about Haperny.'



`His departure won't wreck the works,' Berg asserted. `It'll be no more than a darned inconvenience.
Takes time and trouble to replace an expert. The supply of specialists isn't unlimited.'



`Precisely!And it seems to me that these days the time and trouble are taken more often.'



`Howd'you mean?' asked Berg.



`I've been here eight years. For the first six our staff losses were no more or less than one would expect.
Fellows reached the age of sixty-five and exercised their right to retire on pension. Others agreed to
work on but fell ill or dropped dead a bit later. A few younger ones pegged out from natural causes and
got themselves killed in accidents. Some people were transferred to more urgent work elsewhere. And
so on. As I said, the losses were reasonable.'



`Well?'



`Take a look at the last couple of years. In addition to the normal sequence of deaths, retirements, or
transfers we've had disappearances for less usual reasons. There wasMacLain and Simpson, for
instance. Took a vacation up the Amazon, evaporated into thin air and no trace of them has since been
found.'



`That was eighteen months ago,' Berg contributed. 'It is a good bet that they're dead. Could be anything:
drowning, fever, snakebite, or eaten alive by piranhas.'
`Then there wasJacobert . Married a wealthy dame who had inheriteda big cattle spread inArgentina .