"George Alec Effinger - Slow, Slow Burn" - читать интересную книгу автора (Effinger George Alec)

Honey P├нlar sips some of the wine and makes a little grimace.

тАЬHow are you thinking?тАЭ she asks in a soft voice.

тАЬIt was all right,тАЭ says Kit. He looks down at his broiled fish. тАЬWhat

do you want me to say? It'll sell a million, you outdid yourself. Your

climaxes made the dials go crazy. OK?тАЭ

тАЬI never know you telling me truth.тАЭ She frowns at him, then picks

up a delicate forkful of couscous and eats it thoughtfully.

Kit tears a chunk of the flat bread and puts it in his mouth, then

takes a gulp of wine. Communion, he thinks. I'm absolved. тАЬIf you

didn't believe me a minute ago, what can I say or do that will make

you believe me now?тАЭ

Honey looks hurt. She puts her fork down carefully beside her

plate. Kit wishes the shrieking Arab music would die away forever.
15
 Slow, Slow Burn
by George Alec Effinger



The caf├й smells of cinnamon, as if teams of bakers had been making

sweet rolls all day long and then hidden them away, because nothing

on their plates or on the menu contains the least hint of cinnamon.

Kit knows that Honey wants to go back to the house in Provence.

She's not comfortable in public places.

Kit finishes his glass of wine. He reaches for the bottle, tops up

Honey's glass, then fills his own. He takes out a beige pill case from

his shirt pocket, finds four Paxium and drinks them down with a

Ch├вteau L'Angelus that deserves better. тАЬWhat next?тАЭ he says.

тАЬWhat next now?тАЭ asks Honey. тАЬOr what next we make another