"Boris and Arkady Strugatsky. The snail on the slope" - читать интересную книгу автора

fresh, and satisfied. He began to wash his hands, humming the while "Ave
Maria" in a pleasant voice. After this he announced:
"What a marvel it is after all, this forest, gentlemen! It's criminal
how little we talk and write about it! And it is indeed worthy of
description. It ennobles, it arouses the highest feelings. It facilitates
progress. We, however, are totally unable to stem the spread of unqualified
rumors, stories, and jokes. There is no real forest propaganda being done.
People talk and think about the forest hell knows. . . ."
"Seven hundred and eighty-five multiplied by four hundred and
thirty-two," said Kim.
Proconsul raised his voice. His voice was powerful and well modulated.
The Mercedes became inaudible.
" 'As if we lived in the forest. . .' 'Forest people . . .' 'You can't
see the wood for the trees.' 'If you're in the forest, you're after
firewood.' That's what we have to fight against! To eradicate! Let's say
that you, Monsieur Pepper, don't fight against it, why not? After all, you
could do a detailed, meaningful lecture on the forest at the club, but you
do no such thing. I've been keeping tabs on you for quite a while, it's been
wasted time waiting. What's the matter?"
"Well, I've never been there, have I?" said Pepper. "That doesn't
matter. I haven't been there either, but I've read a lecture, and judging by
the response, it was most useful. It's not whether you've been in the forest
or not, it's a matter of ridding the facts of this encrustation of mysticism
and superstition, laying bare the essence of things, having cleansed it of
adornments placed upon it by philistines and utilitarians. . . ."
"Twice eight divide into forty-nine minus seven times seven," said Kim.
The Mercedes got going. Proconsul once again raised his voice:
"I did it as a trained philosopher. You could do it as a qualified
linguist. I'll give you the points and you can develop them in the light of
the latest linguistic research ... if that's the theme of your thesis?"
"It's 'Stylistic and Rhythmic Characteristics of Feminine Prose in the
Late Heian based on Makwa-no Sosi,' " said Pepper. "I'm afraid that . . ."
"Ex . . . cell . . . ent! Just the thing. And emphasize the fact that
it's not swamps, it's excellent therapeutic mud-baths; not jumping trees but
the end product of high-power research; not natives or savages, rather an
ancient civilization of proud, free, modest, and powerful people with noble
intentions. And no mermaids. No lilac veils of fog, no veiled hints--forgive
me for a poor pun-- That will be excellent, mynheer Pepper, just splendid.
It's a good thing you know the forest, so's you can introduce your own
personal impressions. My lecture was good too, but, I fear, somewhat
over-speculative. As the basis of my material, I made use of conference
minutes. Whereas you as one who has researched into the forest . . .."
"I'm not a forest researcher," said Pepper earnestly. "I'm not allowed
into the forest. I don't know the forest at all."
Proconsul, nodding absently, wrote something swiftly on his shirt cuff.
"Yes!" said he. "Yes, yes. It is the bitter truth, alas. Alas, we still
find pockets of formalism, bureaucracy, heuristic approach to the
personality. . . . You can talk about that as well, by the way. You can, yes
you can, everybody talks about that. Meanwhile, I shall attempt to get your
speech agreed with the higher-ups. I'm damned glad that you'll give us a