"Джон Варли. Платежное поручение(engl) " - читать интересную книгу автора

would be less difficult than he had thought.
The workmen pushed through the door on foot, Jennings with them. They
were in an immense workroom, long benches with half-completed machinery,
booms and cranes, and the constant roar of work. The door closed after them,
cutting them off from outside. He was in the Plant. But where was the time
scoop, and the mirror?
"This way," a foreman said. The workmen plodded over to the right. A
freight lift rose to meet them from the bowels of the building. "You're
going down below. How many of you have experience with drills?"
A few hands went up.
"You can show the others. We are moving earth with drills and eaters.
Any of you work eaters?"
No hands. Jennings glanced at the worktables. Had he worked here, not
so long ago? A sudden chill went through him. Suppose he were recognized?
Maybe he had worked with these very mechanics.
"Come on," the foreman said impatiently. "Hurry up."
Jennings got into the freight lift with the others. A moment later they
began to descend, down the black tube. Down, down, into the lower levels of
the Plant. Rethrick Construction was big, a lot bigger than it looked above
ground. A lot bigger than he had imagined. Floors, underground levels,
flashing past one after the other.
The elevator stopped. The doors opened. He was looking down a long
corridor. The floor was thick with stone dust. The air was moist. Around
him, the workmen began to crowd out. Suddenly Jennings stiffened, pulling
back.
At the end of the corridor before a steel door, was Earl Rethrick.
Talking to a group of technicians.
"All out," the foreman said. "Let's go."
Jennings left the elevator, keeping behind the others. Rethrick! His
heart beat dully. If Rethrick saw him he was finished. He felt in his
pockets. He had a miniature Boris gun, but it wouldn't be much use if he was
discovered. Once Rethrick saw him it would be all over.
"Down this way." The foreman led them toward what seemed to be an
underground railway, to one side of the corridor. The men were getting into
metal cars along a track. Jennings watched Rethrick. He saw him gesture
angrily, his voice coming faintly down the hall. Suddenly Rethrick turned.
He held up his hand and the great steel door behind him opened.
Jennings's heart almost stopped beating.
There, beyond the steel door, was the time scoop. He recognized it at
once. The mirror. The long metal rods, ending in claws. Like Berkowsky's
theoretical model - only this was real.
Rethrick went into the room, the technicians following behind him. Men
were working at the scoop, standing all around it. Part of the shield was
off. They were digging into the works. Jennings stared, hanging back.
"Say you --" the foreman said, coming toward him. The steel door shut.
The view was cut off. Rethrick, the scoop, the technicians, were gone.
"Sorry," Jennings murmured.
"You know you're not supposed to be curious around here." The foreman
was studying him intently. "I don't remember you. Let me see your tab."
"My tab?"