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

the hay. No law against it, is there?'



`Sometimes I think there ought to be,' said Laidler, mysteriously. `Anyway, when a high-grade expert
suddenly decides to take off into the blue we can't safely assume that today's date marks the opening of
his breeding season. There may be a deeper, more dangerous reason. We need to know about that.'



`He'll have to be watched until we're satisfied that he is doing no harm and intends none. A couple of
counter-espionage agents will have to tag along with him. That costs money.'



`Will it come out of your wallet?' asked Bates.



'No.'



`Then what do you care?'




The news about Haperny drifted around the plant and was discussed in no more than perfunctory
manner: In the canteen, Richard Bransome, a green-area metallurgist, mentioned it to his co-worker
Arnold Berg. In the future both men were to be the unwilling subjects of greater mysteries though, of
course, neither suspected it at this time. `Arny, you heard that Haperny is getting out?'



`Yes.Told me so himself a few minutes ago.'



`H'm! Has delay in getting results worn him down? Or has someone offered him money?'



`No; said Berg. `He says he's become sick of regimentation and wants to run loose awhile. It's the gypsy
in him'



`Strange,'mused Bransome. `He never struck me as a fidget.Seemed to me as stolid and as solid as a
lump of rock.'