"Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. Roadside Picnic (англ.)" - читать интересную книгу автора

"Oh, so he wants the witches' jelly, does he? How about some death
lamps while he's at it?"
"I asked him the same thing.
"And?"
"Would you believe that he wants some, too."
"Yes?" I said. "Well, let him go get it himself. It's a snap. There are
cellars full of witches' jelly. Let him take a bucket and bail out as much
as he wants. It's his funeral."
Dick said nothing and watched me without even smiling. What the hell
was he thinking? Was he thinking of hiring me? And then I got it.
"Hold on," I said. "Who was that guy? You're not allowed to study the
jelly even at the institute.
"Right." Dick was speaking slowly and watching me. "It's research that
holds potential danger for mankind. Now do you understand who that was?"
I understood nothing.
"The Visitors, you mean?" He laughed, patted my hand, and said:
"Why' don't we just have a drink instead. You're such a simple soul!"
"OK by me," I said. But I was angry. The sons of bitches think I'm such
a simpleton, eh? "Hey, Gutalin," I said. "Gutalin! Wake up, let's drink!"
Gutalin was fast asleep. His black cheek lay on the black tabletop and
his hands drooped down to the floor. Dick and I had a drink without him.
"All right, now," I said. "Simple soul or complicated, I'll tell you
what I would do about that guy. You know how much love I have for the
police, but I'd turn him in.
"Sure. And the police would ask you why this guy turned to you rather
than someone else. Then what?" I shook my head.
"It doesn't matter. You, you fat jerk, you've only been in the city
three years and haven't been in the Zone once. You've only seen the witches'
jelly in the movies. You should see it in real life and what it does to a
human being. It's a horrible thing and it shouldn't be brought out of the
Zone. You know yourself that stalkers are a rough bunch, all they want is
money and more money, but even the late Slimy wouldn't have gone in on a
deal like that. Buzzard Burbridge wouldn't go for it either. I hate to think
who would need witches jelly and for what.
"Well, you're right about all that," said Dick. "But you see, I'd hate
to be found one morning in bed having committed suicide. I'm not a stalker,
but I am a practical person anyway, and I like living, you know. I've been
doing it for a long time and I've gotten into the habit."
Ernest shouted from the bar:
"Mr. Noonan! Telephone!"
"What the hell!" Dick said angrily. "Must be Shipping Adjustment again.
They find you everywhere. Excuse me, Red."
He got up and went to the phone. I stayed behind with Gutalin and the
bottle, and since Gutalin was of no help at all, I attacked the bottle on my
own. Goddamn that Zone. You can't get away from it. Wherever you go, whoever
you talk to, it's always the Zone, the Zone, the Zone. It's easy for Kirill
to talk about the eternal peace and harmony that will come from the Zone.
Kirill is a fine fellow and no fool -- on the contrary, he's really
bright--but he doesn't know a damn thing about life. He can't even imagine
what kind of scum and criminals hang around the Zone. Now somebody wants to