"John Varley - Mammoth" - читать интересную книгу автора (Varley John)

to exploring in any direction you choose. After you've addressed the job we're hiring you for, of
course."

"I already have most of that," Matt said. "And the project would be...?"

"As I said on the phone, I can't tell you that until you've signed a secrecy agreement. This would
be in effect whether or not you took the job. We are prepared to pay you one hundred thousand
dollars simply to go with me this afternoon and examine certain artifacts that have come into the
possession of the company I work for. Then you take the job or you don't take it; the hundred grand
is yours either way."

Matt was going to take the job. He had known he would take it from the moment he hooked his
jacket, before Warburton's helicopter even landed. But there was no sense jumping the gun, nor in
giving up his negotiating advantage.

"We're not talking about the Company, are we? As in the Central Intelligence—"

"No, I can tell you that much. It's a private company."

"And what did you say the salary would be?" He laughed at the expression on Warburton's face.
"Who told you I don't need money, anyway? Everybody needs money. That's why they call it
money."

"I believe it was Professor Wellburn."

"Of course. Old Wellybelly has hated me since I got the Hawking Chair. I'd like a salary of...
two million dollars a year."

Warburton, who had been authorized to offer another ten million, tried to look as if the demand
was a bitter pill to swallow. After a suitable time frowning, he nodded.

"Done. I have a man aboard who will pack up your gear and drive your—"
 "Don't bother with the gear," Matt said. "If I kept it I'd only be tempted to try fishing again."

He flung the brand-new rod and reel out over the water. As it hit, two trout began fighting over
the fly, but by then Matt was following Warburton to the helicopter.




FROM "LITTLE FUZZY, A CHILD OF THE ICE AGE"
Temba had first come into season two years before that long dry summer, many thousands of
years ago.

Though mammoths and elephants are very much like us in many ways, they are different in other
ways.

Mammoth and elephant females become sexually mature about the same time that human
females do. But human females are fertile once a month, and elephants and mammoths are only fertile
once a year. With elephants that is usually in December or January. We are not completely sure when