"Charles L. Grant - Glow of Candles, Unicorn's eye" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Charles L)

"Oh, don't be a fool," Helena muttered. "He has to finish the contract." She was sitting
cross-legged in the center of the floor, swirling a snifter half full of a brandy I had hoped to
save for another, more special, occasion. Not that just being able to look at her wasn't special-
and the moment I thought that was the first time I realized that I'd fallen in love. "Gordy, you
can't pass up that money, you know. I mean, that's as far as it goes. No money, no food. How much
simpler can it get?"
Philip, who was portly and conscientiously pompous, nodded and retrenched, scratching at
his hairless scalp. "She's right, you know. There's no sense ranting about artistic integrity when
you have to provide bread for the table."
"It isn't fair," I mumbled.
calming deep breath and began talking. Explaining. Describing. Telling her everything and knowing
that if she wanted to, she could run out to the Blues and probably collect a reward. The police
were always giving out rewards. It was part of the system of mutual cooperation and protection. I
stopped my confession only once, when her hands left my shoulder. But I finished. And when I was
done, everything that had been keeping me upright deserted me. I .sagged. She caught me and led me
into the bedroom. And this time there was a catharsis of a sort. The weight of the attempted
murders was, not lifted, but lessened. And I'm ashamed to admit that I was doubly relieved that
she had not run to the Blues, for the reward. .
And when we lay on the bed, each to a side, and did not touch or attempt to peel off our
clothes, I knew she did not pity me, but loved me instead.
"I can't believe they're not really dead," I said into the darkness when the silence grew
too long for me to accept. "But from the report I heard--and would you believe it was only just
before you came here?-from what I heard, none of them will be the same when they recover. The
worst part is: now that I've told you I don't feel guilty anymore. And that's got to be wrong! I
wonder if I should stick around until I'm caught. I'm bound to be, you know. One of them must have
seen something. And if my name and picture go out through the network, there's no place I can
hide. Not for long, anyway,"
But Gordy, it's been nearly two weeks. If the police knew something, they'd be busting
already."
I smiled. Grinned. Shook my head even though I knew she couldn't see it. "What's their
hurry? I haven't tried to leave the country." '
"Maybe . . . maybe you were lucky. Maybe they didn't know who it was, didn't recognize
you, I mean."
I rolled over onto my side, one arm up against my cheek. I tried to see her, but couldn't.
But I saw her anyway. "I keep telling myself that. It's a hope, I guess. I wish I knew."

"Gordy?"
"I'm awake."
"Are you wondering if I hate you for what you did? I mean, I did a show for one of them a
year or so ago."
"A little, I think."

"Well, it's dumb, but I don't. I'm a bit frightened, though." "I know that one well enough, don't
I? Two weeks, and I still can't figure out why I did it."
"You were angry. Furious. That's obvious enough."
"Sure, but why? It wasn't the first time I was ever in a flop." I worked at a laugh, then,
to take the sting out. "When you think about it, I guess, they're all flops, aren't they?"
"Of course they are. You just don't know why."