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Robert A. Heinlein - The Cat Who Walked Through Walls
Atec Февраль 29 2008 20:18:18
Книга только для ознакомления
."
"Oh. Uh, I can see that he should be dead; he's a murderer. But why must
you do it? Both are strangers to you-both the victim and whoever killed him.
Actually it's not your business. Is it?"
"It is my business. Schultz or whatever his name is was killed while he was
a guest at my table. That's intolerably rude. I won't put up with it. Gwen my
love, if one tolerates bad manners, they grow worse. Our pleasant habitat could
decay into the sort of slum Ell-Five is, with crowding and unmannerly behavior
and unnecessary noise and impolite language. I must find the oaf who did this
thing, explain to him his offense, give him a chance to apologize, and kill
him."
III
'One should forgive one*s enemies, but not before they are hanged.**
HEINRICH HEINE 1797-1856
My lovely bride stared at me. "You would kill a man? For bad manners?"
"Do you know of a better reason? Would you have me ignore rude behavior?"
"No but- I can understand executing a man for murder;
I'm not opposed to capital punishment. But shouldn't you leave this to the
proctors and the management? Why must you take the law into your own hands?"
"Gwen, I haven't made myself clear. My purpose is not to punish but to
weed... plus the esthetic satisfaction of retaliation for boorish behavior. This
unknown killer may have had excellent reasons for killing the person who called
himself Schultz
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