"Donald Westlake - SH4 - The World's A Stage" - читать интересную книгу автора (Westlake Donald E)

“Actually, Mr. President,” Councilman Luthguster said, puffing himself up, “We’re from Earth, and we
wish to---”

“Well, of course you are,” the President said. Picking up a document from his desk, he said, “I have a
proclamation here in honor of your voyage and return. ‘Whereas, in the course of human events…’”

Through the window behind the desk, the Washington Monument could be seen; but through the open
doorway to the left, the same old dusty plain was visible. A group of people in overalls and sweatbands
wheeled a Trojan horse by. Two women in straw hats and tuxedos bucked and wung the other way.

The proclamation ran its course. At its finish, Councilman Luthguster squared his round shoulders and
said, “Mr. President, I am empowered by the Galactic Council---”

Approaching Ensign Benson, the President firmly shook his hand and said, “Captain, your voyage into
the unknown makes this the most important day in all creation.”

“Sir,” said Captain Standforth, “I’m the captain.”

“You,” the President reminded him, “are the captain’s best friend.” Turning to Pam Stokes, he said, “And
you are the ship’s biologist.”

“Actually,” Pam said, “I’m the astrogator. I don’t think we’d need a biologist on a---”

“Of course you do.” Irritation seeped through the Presidential manner. “How else do we discover the
killer virus that’s taken over the crew’s bodies?”

“Wait a minute,” Ensign Benson said. “You aren’t the President: you’re pretending to be the President.
This is a play!’

“Well, of course it is!” the President cried! “And this is the worst rehearsal I have ever participated in!”

Luthguster harrumphed. “Do you mean to say,” he demanded, “that you are not empowered to deal on a
primary level with a plenipotentiary from Earth?”

Frowning, the president said, “ Have you come unglued, fella?”

Ensign Benson muttered, “Director-no. Producer-no.” Snapping his fingers, he said to the President,
“Take me to your stage manager.”



The man sat atop a six foot wooden ladder. Behind him were three rows of kitchen chairs, several
occupied by solemn-faced people wearing their Sunday best. The man on the ladder said, “I’m the stage
manager here. I guess I know just about everything there is to know about our town….”



The captain and the crew sat by the side of the dusty road. Billy took his boot off and looked in it.
Councilman Luthguster, marching back and forth, announced, “This is absurd! These people can’t spend
all their time play acting. They must have a government, an infrastructure. How do they get their food?”