"Paul Di Filippo - Stink Lines" - читать интересную книгу автора (Di Filippo Paul)

interfere.With a conclusive, concussive POOF! both the hat and Li'l Bulb
shorted out. Theautomaton toppled from his perch, swinging lifelessly from his
still-socketedfingers.With great reverence Gyro removed his hat with one hand,
cupping Li'l Bulb'sbody in the other.Above Gyro's head now flared a giant
antique light bulb, signifying a Really BigIdea."I never even thought to try
such a thing. He linked all his idiosyncraticprocessing power with the hat's,"
Gyro explained, "even though he knew the twooperating systems were ultimately
and fatally incompatible. But it worked. Iknow now how to deal with the
utility fog. It's trivial."Ginger poked Li'l Bulb gently with one finger. "And
now your friend is gone forgood?"Gyro smiled. "Of course not. I'll just dig
out one of his spare bodies andreboot him from this morning's backup. The
little bugger never could resistmilking humans for all the pathos he could
get."Ginger flung her arms around Gyro. "You did it then! You and Li'l Bulb!
I've gotto run and file my story now! Don't go anywhere!""I'll wait here
forever for you, Ginger, if you tell me to.""Oh, it won't be that long!"On her
way out, Ginger stopped in the doorway, turned -- and blew Gyro a kiss.The
larger-than-life wet glossy red lips flapped across the room and
plasteredthemselves on Gyro's cheek with a smack!There were some things about
this catastrophe he was going to miss.The pride of the official Disney
spaceship fleet appeared to hail straight fromthe Tomorrowland of seventy-five
years ago, a finned rocket styled by Wernheryon Braun, fit only to top some
antique writing trophy. But its looks were asdeceiving as those of Li'l Bulb.
Its fantasy shell housed the latest inspacefaring equipment and drives, and
the ship saw regular use ferrying richpampered tourists to Disney attractions
as distant as Minnie's Mars, HoraceHorsecollar's Helios or Bucky Bug's Belter
Bar.Now, however, the retro-looking, fully provisioned craft was about to
blast offon an Earth-saving flight carrying only a single passenger.Mayor
Floyd Ramie of Duckburg.A safe distance away from the soon-to-be-unleashed
rocket flames, Gyro stoodwith his two friends, Ginger and Li'l Bulb. This
last-named calf-high individualwore a miniature Chinese coolie hat atop his
pointy ultraglass head, strictly asa fashion nod toward the hot Florida sun
--an orb now obscured, but one whicheveryone hoped would soon reappear, once
the massed utility fog from all comersof the globe ceased to form a
dynamically maintained white roof above theirheads.Rebooted into a new body
with no memory of his last few hours, Gyro's Helper hadsteadfastly refused to
admit he might have sacrificed himself for his boss inanother incarnation,
even when presented with the sight of his own corpse.Furiously scribbling, he
finished his first postdeath note and passed it toGyro.With amusement, Gyro
read aloud, "'Even Holy Asimov never perpetrated such amaudlin tear-jerker!
Give it up!' Well, I think you protest a trifle too much,Helper. But if you
want to pretend that you have no feelings for me, that'sfine. I know what I
know."Li'l Bulb thumbed his blank nose at his boss, then left the room. In the
weeksince, the feisty manikin had quite consistently carried out his duties
with anair of blase servitude that only made Gyro smile.Quickly following his
revelation about dealing with the rogue fog, Gyro hadsummoned Mayor Ramie to
his office. When the bland and blustery fellow arrived,Gyro was happy to see
that his accompanying thought balloon -- despite theongoing life-or-death
crisis -- reflected the man's typical vacuity, consistingmostly of an empty
white canvas with some children's primer figures -- Dick,Jane, and Spot --
romping about."Mayor Ramie, how would you like to earn all the credit for