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

`Is that so?' interjected Bates, raising a sardonic eyebrow.
`Whatd'you think a boss is going to say when you walk in and ask him could he use a high-vacuum
physicist?'



'My qualifications don't prevent me from washing dishes,' said Haperny. `If you don't mind, I'd like to be
left to solve my own problems in my own manner. This is a free country, isn't it?'



`We want to keep it that way,' put in Laidler with a touch of menace.



Bates let go a deep sigh and opined, `1f a fellow insists on suddenly going crazy, I can't stop him. So I'll
accept this resignation and pass it along to headquarters. If they decide that you must be shot at dawn it'll
be up to them to tend to it' He waved a hand in dismissal. `All right, leave it with me.'



Haperny departed and Laidler said, `Did you notice his face when you talked about him being shot at
dawn ? It seemed to me to go sort of strained-looking. Maybe he's scared of something.'



`Imagination,' scoffed Bates. `I saw him myself and he looked normal enough. I think he's become
belatedly jumpy, in Nature's own way.'



`Meaning?'



`He's been sexually retarded but at last has outgrown it. Even at forty-two it's not too late to do
something about it. Bet you he leaves here at full gallop, like an eager bull. He'll keep on running until he
finds a suitable mate. Then he'll get coupled and cool down and want his job back`



'You may be right,' conceded Laidler. `But I wouldn't care to put money on it. I feel instinctively that
Haperny is badly worried. It would be nice to know what's causing it`



`Not the worrying type,' Bates assured. `Never has been and never will be. What he wants is a roll in