Текст книги "Лучшая зарубежная научная фантастика: Сумерки богов"

Автор книги: Брюс Стерлинг

Соавторы: Гарднер Дозуа,Мэри Розенблюм,Элизабет Бир,Питер Уоттс,Йен Макдональд,Роберт Рид,Джей Лейк,Доминик Грин,Сара Монетт,Адам Робертс
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Текущая страница: 68 (всего у книги 68 страниц)

Итак, вот оно, вот оно, наконец–то! Потрясающий трюк, грандиозный финал представления «Великолепного Божественного Кошачьего цирка Вишну». Хождение по проволоке. Вы нигде и никогда не видели ничего подобного, если, конечно, не бывали в неком храме Кали… Смотрите, вот это две проволоки. А это наша звезда. Да, белый Катки наконец–то получает шанс блеснуть. Вот он поднимается на подиум и… Барабанная дробь. Ну, барабанную дробь вам придется изображать самим.

Калки! Катки, прекрасный белоснежный Калки, твой выход!

И вот он идет, осторожно скользя то одной лапой, то другой по двум проволокам, шевеля хвостом, чтобы удержать равновесие, весь дрожа от мышечного напряжения. Давай, Калки… Пройди по проволоке. Что за кот! И финальный соскок на дальний подиум, и я подхватываю его, прижимаю к груди и требую аплодисментов! Аплодисменты моим замечательным котам! Я опускаю Катки на песок, и остальные кошки присоединяются к нему и вновь начинают свой бесконечный бег внутри веревочного круга – круговерть мохнатых спин и хвостов. Матсья, Курма, Нарасимха и Вараха; Вамана, Парашурама и Рама; Кришна, Будда и последний по счету, но не по значимости, Катки.

Я раскланиваюсь в первых отблесках утренней зари, наслаждаясь аплодисментами моей публики. И мои кошки, приберегите свои самые горячие восторги для Матсьи, Курмы, Нарасимхи, Варахи, Ваманы, Парашурамы, Рамы, Кришны, Будды и Катки, выступавших для вашего удовольствия. А я? Импресарио, инспектор манежа: рассказчик. Солнце уже взошло, и я не буду вас больше задерживать, потому что вас ждут дела, а мне надо идти, и я думаю, вы теперь понимаете – куда и что я должен там сделать. Возможно, я не добьюсь успеха.

Возможно, даже погибну. Не представляю, чтобы Шив сдался без боя. Поэтому прошу вас, не сделаете ли вы для меня одну вещь? Мои кошки. Вы присмотрите за ними ради меня? Вам не нужно их кормить, нет, ничего такого, просто возьмите их. Выпустите их, они сами могут о себе позаботиться. Я подобрал их точно в таких же местах. На ферме, в деревне они будут счастливы. Вволю охоты и убийств. Быть может, вы даже сумеете заработать на них немножко. Я имею в виду, выступать с ними, о таком никто и слыхом не слыхивал. Это на самом деле намного легче, чем вы думаете. Все дело в мясе, каждый раз. Ну вот, я выдал секрет. Не обижайте их. Ну, я пошел.

Я сталкиваю лодку на воду, вхожу в сверкающую в рассветных лучах воду и запрыгиваю внутрь. Лодка тихонько покачивается. Сегодня великолепное утро; йотирлингам впереди не выдерживает никакого сравнения с солнцем. Я прикладываю пальцы ко лбу, к тилаку, оставленному Лакшми, приветствуя солнце. Потом я сажусь за узкие весла лицом к корме и направляю лодку на стремнину.

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“Blocked,” by Geoff Ryman. Copyright © 2009 by Spilogale, Inc, First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, October/November 2009. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“Solace,” by James Van Pelt. Copyright © 2009 by Dell Magazines. First published in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact, June 2009. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“Act One,” by Nancy Kress. Copyright © 2009 by Dell Magazines. First published in Asimov’s Science Fiction, March 2009. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“Twilight of the Gods,” by John C. Wright. Copyright © 2009 by John C. Wright. First published in Federations (Prime), edited by John Joseph Adams. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“Blood Dauber,” by Ted Kosmatka and Michael Poore. Copyright © 2009 by Dell Magazines. First published in Asimov’s Science Fiction, October/November 2009. Reprinted by permission of the authors.

“This Wind Blowing, and This Tide,” by Damien Broderick. Copyright © 2009 by Dell Magazines. First published in Asimov’s Science Fiction, April/May 2009. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“Hair,” by Adam Roberts. Copyright © 2009 by Adam Roberts. First published in When It Changed (Comma Press), edited by Geoff Ryman. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“Before My Last Breath,” by Robert Reed. Copyright © 2009 by Dell Magazines. First published in Asimov’s Science Fiction, October/November 2009. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“One of Our Bastards is Missing,” by Paul Cornell. Copyright © 2009 by Paul Cornell. First published in The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction: Volume Three (Solaris), edited by George Mann. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“Edison’s Frankenstein,” by Chris Roberson. Copyright © 2009 by Chris Roberson. First published in Postscripts 20/21. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“Erosion,” by Ian Creasey. Copyright © 2009 by Dell Magazines. First published in Asimov’s Science Fiction, October/November 2009. Reprinted by permission of the author.

“Vishnu at the Cat Circus,” by Ian McDonald. Copyright © 2009 by Ian McDonald. First published in Cyberabad Days (Pyr), by Ian McDonald. Reprinted by permission of the author.