"EB - Edward L. Ferman - The Best From Fantasy & Science Fiction 23rd EditionUC - SS" - читать интересную книгу автора (Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine)

- stitions. And be couldn't afford to alienate Mama now. "I shall take precautions," he told her, gravely. "Right now I've got to rest And I want to see Robbie."
Mama Dolores put her hand to her mouth. "I forgetЧthe little one, he is aloneЧ"
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Robert Block
She turned and padded hastily down the hallway, Nolan behind her. Together they entered the nursery.
"Ah!" Mama exhaled a sigh of relief. "The pobrecito steeps."
Robbie lay in his crib, a shaft of moonlight from the window bathing his tiny face. From his rosebud mouth issued a gentle snore.
Nolan smiled at the sound, then nodded at Mama. 'Tm going to turn in now. You take good care of him."
"I will not leave." Mama settled herself hi a rocker beside the crib. As Nolan turned to go, she called after him softly. "Remember what I have told you, senor. If she comes againЧ"
Nolan moved down the hall to his bedroom at the far end. He hadn't trusted himself to answer her. After all, she meant well; it was just that he was too damned tired to put up with any more nonsense from the old woman.
In his bedroom something rustled.
Nolan flinched, then halted as the shadow-shape glided forth from the darkened corner beside the open window.
Nina stood before him and she was stark naked. Stark naked, her arms opening in invitation.
He retreated a step. "No," he said.
She came forward, smiling.
"Go awayЧget out of here."
He gestured her back. Nina's smile faded and she made a sound in her throat, a little gasp of entreaty. Her hands reached outЧ
"Damn it, leave me alone!"
Nolan struck her on the cheek. It wasn't more than a slap, and she couldn't have been hurt But suddenly Nina's face contorted as she launched herself at him, her fingers splayed and aiming at his eyes. This time he hit her hardЧhard enough to send her reeling back.
"Out!" he said. He forced her to the open window, raising his hand threateningly as she spewed and spit her rage, then snatched her garment and clambered over the sill into the darkness beyond.
Nolan stood by the window watching as Nina moved away across the clearing. For a moment she turned hi a path of moonlight and looked back at himЧonly a moment, but long enough for Nolan to see the livid fury blazing in her eyes.
Then she was gone, gliding off into the night where the drums thudded in distant darkness.
She was gone, but the hate remained. Nolan felt its force as he
Nina
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stretched out upon the bed. Ought to undress, but he was too tired. The throbbing in his head was worse, pulsing to the beat of the drums. And the hate was in his head, too. God, that ugly face! Like the thing in mythologyЧwhat was it?Чthe Medusa. One look turned men to stone. Her locks of hair were live serpents.
But that was legend, like Mama Dolores' stories about the snake-people. StrangeЧdid every race have its belief in such creatures? Could there be some grotesque, distorted element of truth behind all these old wives' tales?
He didn't want to think about it now; he didn't want to think of anything. Not Nina, not Darlene, not even Robbie. Darlene would be all right, Robbie was fine, and Nina was gone. That left him, alone here with the drums. Damned pounding. Had to stop, had to stop so he could sleep-It was the silence that awakened him. He sat up with a start, realizing he must have slept for hours, because the shadows outside the window were dappled with the grayish pink of dawn.
Nolan rose, stretching, then stepped out into the hall. The shadows were darker here and everything was still.
He went down the hallway to the other bedroom. The door was ajar and he moved past it, calling softly. "Mama DoloresЧ"
Nolan's tongue froze to the roof of bis mouth. Time itself was frozen as he stared down at the crushed and pulpy thing sprawled shapelessly beside the rocker, its sightless eyes bulging from the swollen purple face.
No use calling her name again; she'd never hear it And RobbieЧ
Nolan turned hi the frozen silence, his eyes searching the shadows at the far side of the room.
The crib was empty.
Then he found his voice and cried out; cried out again as he saw the open window and the gray vacancy of the clearing beyond.
Suddenly he was at the window, climbing out and dropping to the matted sward below. He ran across the clearing, through the trees and into the open space before the riverbank.
Moises was in the launch, working on the engine. He looked up as Nolan ran towards him, shouting.
"What are you doing here?"
"There is the problem of the motor. It requires attention. I come early, before the heat of the day-"
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Robert Bloch
"Did you see her?"
"Who, senor?"
"The girl-NinaЧ'*
"Ah, yes. The India." Moises codded. "She is gone, in her catamaran, up the river. Two, maybe three hours ago, just as I arrive."
"Why didn't you stop her?"
"For what reason?"
Nolan gestured quickly. "Get that engine startedЧwe're going after her."
Moises frowned. "As I told you, there is the matter of the repairs. Perhaps this afternoonЧ"
"We'll never catch her then!" Nolan gripped Moises* shoulder. "Don't you understand? She's taken Robbiel"