"Eisenstein,.Phyllis.-.Elementals.2.-.1988.-.Crystal.Palace" - читать интересную книгу автора (Eisenstein Phyllis)

The tree was in full bloom. The butterfly selected a flower and sampled its
nectar, seeking some trace of the special flavor of gold. Finding none, it
examined the petals, the calyx, the stem. Delicately, it walked the branch that
bore the flower, peering into other blossoms, tasting, smelling. It even scraped
at the bark with the tip of one slender leg. Nothing. It flitted to the ground
then, to inspect the herbs and mosses that grew at the base of the tree, even
the mushrooms that clung to the partially exposed roots, but there was not the
faintest hint of gold in any of them. The nearby undergrowth was equally barren,
and finally the butнterfly soared skyward to search elsewhere.
Three days it stayed in the mountains, questing in the sunlit hours, sleeping
amid leafy branches at night. It found more gold, but none in any plant. On the
morning of the fourth day, it gave over its search and flew back to its
birthplace.
The garden at the heart of Spinweb was home to many a butterfly. Open to the
sky, it was filled with flowers, especially with sweet-scented roses. On this
day, as on thousands of others, the mistress of the place sat upon a sun-warmed
bench in the midst of her roses. Dressed all in blue feathers, she hummed a soft
tune as she embroidered on a piece of bleached linen.
The yellow butterfly alighted on the bench beside her.
УAh,Ф she said, smiling at the bright insect, УI was beginning to wonder when
youТd be coming back.Ф
The butterfly flexed its wings once, twice, and then they began to shrivel as if
they had been made of wax and held too near a flame. The contours of the sleek
body changed, four of the legs became stubbier, and the other two shrank into
the torso even as the antenнnae shrank into the head. Abruptly, instead of a
butнterfly, a naked manikin sat on the stone bench. A few heartbeats later, Cray
Ormoru had grown back to his normal size.
For a moment, he stretched his arms up to the sky, letting the heat of the
summer sun wash through him and ease the stiffness that the insect form had left
in his muscles. Then he made a small gesture with one hand, and his clothes
fluttered down from the high window of his bedchamber and scurried across the
garden to him like so many puppies eager to greet their master. The woman helped
him dress, and as she laced up his shirt, he kissed her forehead and grinned,
saying, УYou were right about my being hungry, Mother. IТm ravenous.Ф
Delivev Ormoru laughed softly, УYes, IТve never found nectar very filling,
myself. But thereТs a cold roast fowl and fresh bread waiting for you in the
kitchen.Ф
Linking arms, they strolled into the shaded coolness of SpinwebТs corridors.
They looked much alike, mother and sonЧboth tall and fair, both young and
vigorous. Only her eyes betrayed the extra centuries Delivev had seen.
In the kitchen, a creature made of cloth, with trews for legs and gloves for
hands, served Cray his meal. As he tore into the fowl, Delivev seated herself on
the edge of the table. She said, УDid you find what you were looking for?Ф
He shook his head. УJust ordinary greenery. Not a single plant with gold in its
structure.Ф
She pursed her lips a moment. УPerhaps ... the deposits you located were too
small? Or not close enough to the surface?Ф
УI wish that were true.Ф
УWell ... Ф She lifted her shoulders in a slight shrug. УThen youТve created
something new in the world.Ф