"Edward L. Ferman - Best From F&SF, 23rd Edition" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ferman Edward L)

Once aboard the launch and heading back, he stretched out on the straw mattress in a sleep that was like
death itself.
Nolan awakened to the sound of drums. He jerked upright with a startled cry, then realized that night
had come and they were once again at anchor beside the dock. Moises grinned at him in weary triumph.
"Almost we do not make it," he said. "The motor is bad. No matter, it is good to be home again."
Nolan nodded, flexing his cramped limbs. He stepped out onto the dock, then hurried up the path
across the clearing. The darkness boomed.
Home? This corner of hell, where the drums dinned and the shadows leaped and capered before
flickering fires?
All but one, that is. For as Nolan moved forward, another shadow glided out from the deeper
darkness beside the bungalow.
It was Nina.
Nolan blinked as he recognized her standing there and staring up at him. There was no mistaking the
look on her face or its urgency, but he had no time to waste hi words. Brushing past her, he hastened to
the doorway and she melted back into the night.
Mama Dolores was waiting for nun inside, nodding her greeting,.
"Robbie-is he all right?"
"Si, senor. I take good care. Par favor, I sleep in his room."
"Good." Nolan turned and started for the hall, then hesitated as Mama Dolores frowned. "What is
it?" he said.
The old woman hesitated. "You will not be offended if I speak?тАЭ
"Of course not"
Mama's voice sank to a murmur. "It concerns the one outside."
"Nina?"
"That is not her name, but no matter." Mama shook her head.
тАЬFor two days she has waited there. I see you with her now when you return. And I see you with her
beforeтАФ"
"That's none of your business!" Nolan reddened. "Besides, it's all over now."
"Does she believe that?" Mama's gaze was grave. "You must tell her to go."
"I've tried. But the girl comes from the mountains; she doesn't speak English-"
"I know." Mama nodded. "She is one of the snake-people."
Nolan stared at her. "They worship snakes up there?"
"No, not worship."
Then what do you mean?"
These peopleтАФthey are snakes."
Nolan scowled. "What is this?"
The truth, senor. This one you call NinaтАФthis girlтАФis not a girl. She is of the ancient race from the
high peaks, where the great serpents dwell. Your workers here, even Moises, know only the jungle, but I
come from the great valley beneath the mountains, and as a child I learned to fear those who lurk above.
We do not go there, but sometimes the snake-people come to us. In the spring when they awaken, they
shed their skins, and for a time they are fresh and clean before the scales grow again. It is then that they
come, to mate with men."
She went on like that, whispering about creatures half-serpent and half-human, with bodies cold to
the touch, limbs that could writhe in boneless contortion to squeeze the breath from a man and crush him
like the coils of a giant constrictor. She spoke of forked tongues, of voices hissing forth from mouths
yawning incredibly wide on movable jawbones. And she might have gone on, but Nolan stopped her
now; his head was throbbing with weariness.
"That's enough," he said. "I thank you for your concern."
"But you do not believe me."
"I didn't say that" Tired as he was, Nolan still remembered the basic ruleтАФnever contradict these