"Nina Kiriki Hoffman - The Pulse of the Machine" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hoffman Nina Kiriki)

I untense and go to her car. I climb in and close the door.

She starts the car, raising a low thrum that permeates the carтАЩs structure. It was hibernating. We sit snug
inside it like two meals. It judders into motion.

тАЬAll that about bonesтАФthat was true, wasnтАЩt it?тАЭ

I say nothing.
тАЬI thought I knew you so well. The accent, the walk, the smaller sense of personal space. I saw people
like you in Europe during the two years when I was traveling. Terry, who are you?тАЭ

I lean against the door, letting the carтАЩs pulse go through me. I can smell its metallic breath. Things go by
quickly outside, scentless and unreal. She is not taking me to my landladyтАЩs place. тАЬYou should let me
out,тАЭ I say.

тАЬI should never have let you get drunk. It was just the grades. AтАЩs in chemistry, Terry. I was so happy.тАЭ

тАЬI was, too.тАЭ Tests are fresh phenomena to me, but AnitraтАЩs excitement was contagious. I mimicked it,
because I donтАЩt know how to feel yet. I watch a lot of people. Anitra is my favorite model human.

I donтАЩt want to kill her.

тАЬTerry. Please. WeтАЩre friends, arenтАЩt we?тАЭ

тАЬYes.тАЭ

тАЬTalk to me. I swear I wonтАЩt tell anybody. IтАЩd like to analyze you.тАЭ

Though sheтАЩs majoring in history, Anitra is taking psychology courses. She often tells me about human
behavior. I am fascinated. I plan to take classes next semester.

The carтАЩs steady purr slows, then stops. She removes the keys and slides out, locking the door.

I sit. Perhaps I can stay in the car.

She opens my door. тАЬTerry?тАЭ

I emerge.

I have been to her place before. She lives in half a duplex on the edge of town. I can smell horses and
new green wheat and ditch water, cattails, cattle, dust, and a breath of daffodils on the breeze.

She climbs the two cement steps and turns toward me. The porch light splashes yellow on her dark hair
and shoulders, leaving her face in shadow. тАЬTerry. Come on.тАЭ

I walk toward her, feeling again the shimmer of power under my skin. The change is near the surface.
Sometimes it comes without volitionтАФa sound, a scent will trigger it. Tonight it waits. тАЬDo you have
anything to drink?тАЭ I ask.