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

people or make fun of their superstitions. 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 forgetтАФthe little one, he is aloneтАФ"
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. тАЬIтАЩm going to turn in now. You take good care of
him."
"I will not leave." Mama settled herself in 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 againтАФ"
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 awayтАФget 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 outтАФ
"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 hardтАФhard 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 himтАФonly 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 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 mythologyтАФwhat was it?тАФthe
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. StrangeтАФdid 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 DoloresтАФ"