"Thomas M. Disch - Understanding Human Behavior" - читать интересную книгу автора (Disch Thomas M)

"I'll bet."

"Some day we're going to go to Denver and see the dolls' Pope."

"Really. I didn't know dolls had a Pope."

"They do."

"Will you look at her now!"

"I don't like to, it makes me sick. I didn't want to come today, but no one would look after me.
They were all building. So I had to."

"It doesn't make you want to fly someday, seeing her up there like that?"

"No. Some day she's going to kill herself. She knows it, too. That's how she had her accident,
you know. She wasn't always in a wheelchair."

"Yes, I've heard that."

"What's so awful for me is to think she won't ever be able to receive the Last Sacrament."

The sun glowed through the red nylon wings of the glider, but even Professor Astor would
have had a hard time making that fit her theory. Desire! Why not just Amazement?

"If she does kill herself," Rochelle continued dispassionately, "we'll be sent to an orphanage. In
Denver, I hope. And Ms. Chillywiggles will be able to do missionary work among the dolls there.
Do you have any dolls, Mr. Roe?"

He shook his head.

"I suppose you think dolls are only for girls. That's a very old prejudice, however. Dolls are for
anyone who likes them."

"I may have had dolls when I was younger. I don't know."

"Oh. Were you erased?"

He nodded.

"So was my mother. But I was only a baby then, so I don't remember any more about her than
she does. What I think is she must have committed some really terrible sin, and it tortured her
so much she decided to be erased. Do you ever go in to Denver?"

"Sometimes."

Ms. Sillygiggles whispered something in Ms. Chillywiggles' ear, who evidently did not agree with
the suggestion. Rochelle looked cast down. "Damn," she said.
"What's wrong?"