"Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. Probationers (engl) " - читать интересную книгу автора

understand at all, how success and prosperity is measured on your side.
Indeed on your side everything is upside down. And with us, everything is
clear and understandable. Where is the conqueror of Hannimex, captain Upton
now? The director of a company "Minerals Ltd". Who is the famous navigator
Cyrus Campbell? The owner of two largest restaurants in New York city.
Naturally, once the entire world knew them, and now they are in the shade,
but before they were servants and went wherever they got sent, and now they
have servants of their own and send these wherever they like. I also do not
wish to be a servant. I also want to be a master.
Ivan said pensively:
- You have achieved something already, Joyce. You do not wish to be a
servant. Now the least bit is left - to cease wanting to be a master.
Yura finished his okroshka and saw the surprise. On the bottom of the
plate was a line: "This dish was cooked by an electronic kitchen machine
"Orpehus" made by "Cybernetics Ltd". Yura pushed the plate aside and
announced:
- I believe it is really boring to spend your whole life standing
behind the bar.
The barman adjusted an English sign on the wall saying: "Possession of
firearms in Mirza-Charlie is punishable by death" and said:
- What do you mean - boring? What is boring work and what is fun work?
Work is work.
- Work must be interesting, - said Yura.
The barman shrugged his shoulders:
- What for?
- What do you mean "what for"? - wondered Yura. - If work is
interesting, one must... must... But who needs it, boring work? What purpose
do you achieve, if you work without taking an interest in it?
- You tell this old fella, - said Ivan.
The barman stood up with an effort and announced:
- This is unfair. You are recruiting allies, Ivan. And I am alone.
- There are two of you, - said Ivan. He pointed at the sleeping man
with his finger.
The barman looked, shook his head, and after collecting dirty plates,
went behind the bar.
- What a tough nut, - said Ivan in a low voice. - How did he speak
about the prestige of the establishment, hey? Now you should try arguing
with him. You would never understand each other. I am still trying to find a
common language with him. All in all, he is really a swell bloke.
Yura shook his head obstinately.
- No, - he said. - He is not at all swell. He is self-satisfied and
dull. And I pity him. Well, what does a person live for? He will eventually
save money and return home. And then what?
- Joyce! - bellowed Ivan. - We have one more question for you!
- Coming! - shouted the barman.
He appeared from behind the bar stand and placed before Yura the plate
with a shnitzel and a misty bottle of grape juice.
- On the house, - said he, pointing to bottle, and sat down.
Yura said:
- Thank you, you shouldn't have.