"Zenna Henderson - Holding Wonder" - читать интересную книгу автора (Henderson Zenna)

went back to the porch. "Now. Details." We all sat.

Vincent, his eyes intent on his father's face and his hand firmly holding his
mother's, detailed.

"There are two men orbiting up there. The capsule won't function properly. One
man is dead. I never did hear him. The other one is crying for help."
Vincent's face tightened anxiously. "He-he feels so bad that it nearly kills
me. Only sometimes I guess he passes out because the feeling goes away-like
now. Then it comes back worse-"

"He's orbiting," said Mr. Kroginold, his eyes intent on Vincent's face.

"Oh," said Vincent weakly, "of course! I didn't think of that! Oh, Dad! I'm so
stupid!" And he flung himself on Mr. Kroginold.

"No," said Mr. Kroginold, wrapping him around with the dark strength of his
arms. "Just young. You'll learn. But first learn to bring your problems to
your mother and me. That's what we're for!"

"But," said Vincent. "I'm not supposed to listen in-

"Did you seek him out?" asked Mr. Kroginold. "Did you know about the
capsule?"

"No," said Vincent. "He just came in to me-"

"See?" Mr. Kroginold set Vincent back on the step "You weren't listening in.
You were invaded. You just happened to be the right receptivity. Now, what
were your plans?"

"They were probably stupid, too," admitted Vincent. "But I was going to lift
our capsule-I had to have something to put him in-and try to intercept the
orbit of the other one. Then I was going to get the man out-I don't know
how-and bring him back to Earth and put him down at the FBI building in
Washington. They'd know how to get him home again."

"Well," Mr. Kroginold smiled faintly. "Your plan has the virtue of simplicity,
anyway. Just nit-picking, though, I can see one slight problem. How would the
FBI ever convince the authorities in his country that we hadn't impounded the
capsule for our own nefarious purposes?" Then he became very business-like.

"Lizbeth, will you get in touch with Ron? I think he's in Kerry tonight. Lucky
our best Motiver is This End right now. I'll see if Jemmy is up-canyon. We'll
get his okay on Remy's craft at the Selkirk. If this has been going on for
very long, time is what we've got little of."

It was rather anti-climactic after all those efficient rattlings-out of
directions to see the three of them just sit quietly there on the step, hands
clasped, their faces lifted a little in the moonlight, their eyes closed. My