Have you ever thought about what fiction is? Probably, such a question may seem surprising: and so everything is clear. Every person throughout his life has to repeatedly create the works he needs for specific purposes - statements, autobiographies, dictations - using not gypsum or clay, not musical notes, not paints, but just a word. At the same time, almost every person will be very surprised if he is told that he thereby created a work of fiction, which is very different from visual art, music and sculpture making. However, everyone understands that a student's essay or dictation is fundamentally different from novels, short stories, news that are created by professional writers. In the works of professionals there is the most important difference - excogitation. But, oddly enough, in a school literature course, you don’t realize the full power of fiction. So using our website in your free time discover fiction for yourself. The Business, As Usual by Jack Sharkey (the reading list .TXT) 📖
- Author: Jack Sharkey
Book online «The Business, As Usual by Jack Sharkey (the reading list .TXT) 📖». Author Jack Sharkey
"You had no trouble with the enemy?" the President asked, though the answer—since Blake was back alive—was obvious.
"None," Blake said. "The radar shield performed exactly as specified, sir. Not a blink of a searchlight nor a single ground-to-air rocket did we see. Perhaps, on hearing us pass by, they sent up an investigating plane or two, but we were long gone by then. That's the advantage of moving faster than the sound you make," he added pontifically.
"I still feel we've overlooked something," said the President. "In the back of my mind, a small voice keeps trying to remind me of something about the Russians, something that should have made me veto this whole scheme at the start."
Blake looked puzzled. "What about them, sir? If it's in regard to their psychology, I can assure you—"
"I don't mean their psychology at all," said the President. "No, wait—yes, I do, in a minor way. They must pursue this thing, no matter what, but—"
A light glimmered, then burned brightly in the President's eyes, and he stood up and smacked his fist into his open palm. "Of course!" he said. "Their methods!"
"Methods?" asked Blake, a little nervously.
The President's reply was interrupted by a knock at the door. The three men exchanged a look; then the Secretary jabbed the button, and Jenkins came in.
"This just came for you, sir," he said, handing the Secretary a small envelope, and making his exit silently.
The President waited impatiently as the envelope was torn open and its contents read. Then the Secretary's hands opened limply and the message fell upon the table.
"Diplomatic note—Russian—Teddy," he whispered.
"What!" yelped the President. He snatched the paper from the table and read it, then sank into his chair once more, his face grim and eyes suspiciously moist. "The dirty, lowdown, rotten...."
Blake, hovering at tableside, hesitated a moment, then asked, "What about Teddy? What's happened?"
"What we might have expected," said the Secretary dolefully.
"You don't mean—" Blake mumbled, horrified. He couldn't continue, just waited for the worst.
The President nodded miserably.
"He's confessed."
End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Business, As Usual, by Jack Sharkey
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