Текст книги "Лучшая зарубежная научная фантастика: Звёзды не лгут"

Автор книги: Гарднер Дозуа

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Текущая страница: 70 (всего у книги 70 страниц)

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– Меня зовут… – начала она.

– Мама, – улыбнулся мальчик.

– Точно?

И он рассмеялся одной из их старых, любимых шуток. Конечно, она была его мамой и ни в каком другом имени из его уст не нуждалась. Они по-прежнему оставались вдвоем, действуя как один. Среди деревьев-небоскребов жили и другие одиночки. Но времена стояли сравнительно сытые, и между монстрами не было серьезных конфликтов. Не возникало и союзов. Сотрудничество сопровождалось требованиями, и местные монстры не видели надобности объединяться даже на день.

– Хочу историю, – сказал малыш.

Они сидели в темноте под шкурой улита, слушая, как барабанит и стекает в раскисшую почву дождь.

– Ладно, – ответила мать.

– А о чем? – спросил он нетерпеливо.

– Об острове.

– Об отце?

– Что – об отце?

– Хочу послушать, как он тебя спас и выходил… пока не… – его неокрепший голос умолк, сменившись привычным печальным молчанием.

– Наверное, в другой раз.

– Тогда о чем?

Она обняла своего крепкого малютку-монстра и стиснула так, что больно стало обоим. Чуть погодя сказала:

– Я расскажу тебе о звездах, и о вселенной за звездами, и о нашем великом роде, и о чудесах, которые можно узреть только мысленным взором…

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