О дивный новый мир

           "Damn,I’mlate,"BernardsaidtohimselfashefirstcaughtsightofBigHenry,theSingeryclock.Andsureenough,ashewaspayingoffhiscab,BigHenrysoundedthehour."Ford,"sangoutanimmensebassvoicefromallthegoldentrumpets."Ford,Ford,Ford..."Ninetimes.Bernardranforthelift.

           ThegreatauditoriumforFord’sDaycelebrationsandothermassedCommunitySingswasatthebottomofthebuilding.Aboveit,ahundredtoeachfloor,weretheseventhousandroomsusedbySolidarityGroupsfortheirfortnightservices.Bernarddroppeddowntofloorthirty-three,hurriedalongthecorridor,stoodhesitatingforamomentoutsideRoom3210,then,havingwoundhimselfup,openedthedoorandwalkedin.

           ThankFord!hewasnotthelast.Threechairsofthetwelvearrangedroundthecirculartablewerestillunoccupied.Heslippedintothenearestofthemasinconspicuouslyashecouldandpreparedtofrownattheyetlatercomerswhenevertheyshouldarrive.

           Turningtowardshim,"Whatwereyouplayingthisafternoon?"thegirlonhisleftenquired."Obstacle,orElectro-magnetic?"

           Bernardlookedather(Ford!itwasMorganaRothschild)andblushinglyhadtoadmitthathehadbeenplayingneither.Morganastaredathimwithastonishment.Therewasanawkwardsilence.

           Thenpointedlysheturnedawayandaddressedherselftothemoresportingmanonherleft.

           "AgoodbeginningforaSolidarityService,"thoughtBernardmiserably,andforesawforhimselfyetanotherfailuretoachieveatonement.