Проф. Преображенский писал(а):
Свободный выбор делается каждую минуту.
‘Are you accepting my offer, Mr Lipwig?’ said Vetinari sharply.
Moist looked at him. ‘Excuse me,’ he said, standing up, ‘I’d just like to check something.’
There were two men dressed in black standing behind his chair. It wasn’t a particularly neat black, more the black worn by people who just don’t want little marks to show. They looked like clerks, until you met their eyes.
They stood aside as Moist walked towards the door which, as promised, was indeed there. He opened it very carefully. There was nothing beyond, and that included a floor. In the manner of one who is going to try all possibilities, he took the remnant of spoon out of his pocket and let it drop. It was quite a long time before he heard the jingle.
Then he went back and sat in the chair.
‘The prospect of freedom?’ he said.
‘Exactly,’ said Lord Vetinari. ‘There is always a choice.’
‘You mean . . . I could choose certain death?’
‘A choice, nevertheless,’ said Vetinari. ‘Or, perhaps, an alternative. You see, I believe in freedom, Mr Lipwig. Not many people do, although they will of course protest otherwise. And no practical definition of freedom would be complete without the freedom to take the consequences. Indeed, it is the freedom upon which all the others are based
