Citizen in Spase. Stories / Гражданин в Космосе. Рассказы. Книга для чтения на английском языке

Because waving proudly from the flagpole was the firm, fine-textured, characteristic skin of an adult Mirash, its zippers, tubes, gauges, buttons and holsters flashing merrily in the sunshine.

A Thief in Time

Thomas Eldridge was all alone in his room in Butler Hall when he heard the faint scraping noise behind him. It barely registered on his consciousness. He was studying the Holstead equations, which had caused such a stir a few years ago, with their hint of a non-Relativity universe. They were a disturbing set of symbols, even though their conclusions had been proved quite fallacious.

Still, if one examined them without preconceptions, they seemed to prove something. There was a strange relationship of temporal elements, with interesting force-applications. There was – he heard the noise again and turned his head.

Standing in back of him was a large man dressed in ballooning purple trousers, a little green vest and a porous silver shirt. He was carrying a square black machine with several dials and he looked decidedly unfriendly.

They stared at each other. For a moment, Eldridge thought it was a fraternity prank. He was the youngest associate professor at Carvell Tech, and some student was always handing him a hardboiled egg or a live toad during Hell Week.

But this man was no giggling student. He was at least fifty years old and unmistakably hostile.

“How’d you get in here?” Eldridge demanded. “And what do you want?”

The man raised an eyebrow. “Going to brazen it out, eh?[16 - Going to brazen it out, eh? – Нагло пытаешься выкрутиться, да?]”

“Brazen what out?” Eldridge asked, startled.

“This is Viglin you’re talking to,” the man said. “Viglin. Remember?”

Eldredge tried to remember if there were any insane asylums[17 - insane asylum – психиатрическая больница] near Carvell. This Viglin looked like an escaped lunatic.

“You must have the wrong man,” Eldridge said, wondering if he should call for help.

Viglin shook his head. “You are Thomas Monroe Eldridge,” he said. “Born March 16, 1926, in Darien, Connecticut. Attended the University Heights College, New York University, graduating cum laude[18 - cum laude – (лат.) с отличием (о дипломе)]. Received a fellowship to Carvell last year, in early 1953. Correct so far?”

“All right, so you did a little research on me for some reason.