Pohl, Frederik (ed.) - Assignment in Tomorrow / Пол, Фредерик (ред.) - Назначение в Завтра [1954, EPUB, ENG]

Mr. Costello, Hero / Мистер Костелло, герой by Theodore Sturgeon Angels in the Jets / Ангелы в ракетах by Jerome Bixby The Adventurer / Авантюристы by C. M. Kornbluth Subterfuge / Военная хитрость by Ray Bradbury Helen O'Loy / Елена Лав by Lester del Rey 5,271,009 / 5,271,009 by Alfred Bester The Big Trip Up Yonder / Завтра, и завтра, и завтра... by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. We Don't Want Any Trouble / Мы не хотим проблем by James H. Schmitz The Peddler's Nose / Нос торговца by Jack Williamson The Frightened Tree (= Protective Mimicry) / Пугливое дерево by Algis Budrys A Matter of Form / Вопрос формы by H. L. Gold Back to Julie by Richard Wilson She Who Laughs ... / Та, что смеётся by Peter Phillips Official Record / Официальный отчет by Fletcher Pratt Hall of Mirrors / Бесконечная череда отражений by Fredric Brown Mother / Мать by Philip José Farmer

THEODORE STURGEON Mr. Costello, Hero

“Come in, Purser. And shut the door.” “I beg your pardon, sir?” The Skipper never invited anyone in—not to his quarters. His office, yes, but not here. He made an abrupt gesture, and I came in and closed the door. It was about as luxurious as a compartment on a spaceship can get. I tried not to goggle at it as if it was the first time I had ever seen it, just because it was the first time I had ever seen it. I sat down. He opened his mouth, closed it, forced the tip of his tongue through his thin lips. He licked them and glared at me. I’d never seen the Iron Man like this. I decided that the best thing to say would be nothing, which is what I said. He pulled a deck of cards out of the top-middle drawer and slid them across the desk. “Deal.” . . .