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

"We want to ask you a few questions. That's all. You've been working
for Rethrick?"
"Yes."
"Two years?"
"Almost two years."
"At the Plant?"
Jennings nodded. "I suppose so."
The officer leaned toward him. "Where is that Plant, Mr. Jennings.
Where is it located?"
"I don't know."
The two officers looked at each other. The first one moistened his
lips, his face sharp and alert. "You don't know? The next question. The
last. In those two years, what kind of work did you do? What was your job?"
"Mechanic. I repaired electronic machinery."
"What kind of electronic machinery?"
"I don't know." Jennings looked up at him. He could not help smiling,
his lips twisting ironically. "I'm sorry, but I don't know. It's the truth."
There was silence.
"What do you mean, you don't know? You mean you worked on machinery for
two years without knowing what it was? Without even knowing where you were?"
Jennings roused himself. "What is all this? What did you pick me up
for? I haven't done anything. I've been --"
"We know. We're not arresting you. We only want to get information for
our records. About Rethrick Construction. You've been working for them, in
their Plant. In an important capacity. You're an electronic mechanic?"
"Yes."
"You repair high-quality computers and allied equipment?" The officer
consulted his notebook. "You're considered one of the best in the country,
according to this."
Jennings said nothing.
"Tell us the two things we want to know, and you'll be released at
once. Where is Rethrick's Plant? What kind of work are they doing? You
serviced their machines for them, didn't you? Isn't that right? For two
years."
"I don't know. I suppose so. I don't have any idea what I did during
the two years. You can believe me or not." Jennings stared wearily down at
the floor.
"What'll we do?" the driver said finally. "We have no instructions past
this."
"Take him to the station. We can't do any more questioning here."
Beyond the cruiser, men and women hurried along the sidewalk. The streets
were choked with cruisers, workers going to their homes in the country.
"Jennings, why don't you answer us? What's the matter with you? There's
no reason why you can't tell us a couple of simple things like that. Don't
you want to cooperate with your Government? Why should you conceal
information from us?"
"I'd tell you if I knew."
The officer grunted. No one spoke. Presently the cruiser drew up before
a great stone building. The driver turned the motor off, removing the
control cap and putting it in his pocket. He touched the door with a code