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

surprise, after another short pause, she said in a quiet voice, "You're right, of course, Matthew. Thank
you for taking so much trouble for me."
Nothing was trouble which guaranteed me the chance to see her twice a day. When I met Selene on
the beach several days later, I thanked her.
She shrugged, running in place while she talked to me. "Someone has to let you know when things
need to be done."
She started off up the beach.
"May I run with you?" I called after her.
She looked back without stopping. "If you like. I'd like having someone besides myself to talk to. It's
only fair to warn you, though. I'm harder to get along with than Mandy."
She was nothing if not honest. In the succeeding mornings, if I ran too slowly, she simply left me
behind. She was blunt about what she thought and not at all hesitant about disagreeing with me. Still,
there was no verbal swordplay and no pretense about her, which was as attractive in its way as
Amanda's charming acquiescence. And I never ceased to be fascinated by the difference between
Amanda's serenity and Selene's coiled-spring energy.
Selene also kept me informed on what needed to be done, either around the cabin or for Amanda.
Morning after morning, she would hand me a note when I met her. I was always glad of an excuse to see
more of Amanda, but I was puzzled by the notes.
"Why write?" I asked Selene.
That particular morning she was working through a set of torturous-looking exercises that made my
muscles protest to watch. She never broke the rhythm of them and her voice came in gasps between
stretches and bends. "Habit, I guess. I always left ... notes for Mandy."
"Like these?"
"Basically. In the beginning ... it was to tell her . . . about me, then . . . to let her know . . . who I met
and what... I learned in school ... my half the ... year so people wouldn't . . . know about. . . us."
"When did you become two people?"
She rolled to her feet Swinging up onto the deck, she began using the railing as a bar for ballet
exercises. She shot me an amused glance. "Ever curious, aren't you, Gordy?" But before I could protest,
she grinned. "We split when we were six. I told Mandy about it when we were seven, after we'd learned
to read and write. Any more questions?"
"Yes. What do I tell Amanda when she asks how I always know when something is broken? You
don't want me to say anything about you, but I don't want to lie to her."
Selene went on exercising. "She won't ask. People have been taking care of Mandy all her life. She
takes it for granted we know what she needs." She straightened, pink with exertion. "Oh, IтАЩd better warn
you. Next week is the Senator's birthday. Mandy will be asking you to take her shopping for a gift." She
blew me a theatrical kiss and disappeared inside.
Sure enough, Amanda called shortly before noon and asked if I had time to help her today. Caro
looked disapproving but had to admit the appointment book was empty.
"Where can I reach you?" she asked as I hung up the phone.
"Somewhere in Gateside."
Caro rolled her eyes. Before she could express her opinion of running out of town on a working day,
I left to pick up Amanda.
Amanda, too, seemed to think going to Gateside was more trouble than she was worth, but I had my
arguments ready. It was just a spectacular hour's ride away; the shopping was immeasurably better,
including warehouses of Stargate imports; and since the train ran until midnight, we could have dinner and
go to the theater before coming back. That persuaded her.
By the end of the day I still thought it had been a good idea, though my feet ached from following her
through what had to be every shop in Gateside before Amanda found a gift she thought worthy of her
father. I requested a window table at the Beta Cygnus, where we could get some coffee and rest while
we watched cafe patrons and people in the street outside.