"G. Howell - The Human Memoirs" - читать интересную книгу автора (Howell G)

THE HUMAN MEMOIRS
by G. Howell
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Copyright the author

Version 1.01



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PART I



I, a stranger and afraid
In a world I never made

--HOUSMAN



Running feet pattered and clicked on worn flagstones, the sound echoing
hollowly through the Library's cold stone corridors. Of course running in the
Citadel was frowned upon, but at this hour the halls were practically
deserted; the only ones around to witness such infractions were the rats and
mice, and they couldn't care less.
The cavernous oval floor of the foyer - packed with students during
daylight hours - was as deserted as the rest of the Library. Beyond the
antique leaded glass of the high ceiling dome, night-bound clouds scudded
across the sky, seemingly just arm's length outside. He blinked up at fat
raindrops blatting against the glass and shivered; the heating was turned
down for the night, not that it ever made much of a difference in a room this
size anyway. Somewhere in the library an old water clock chimed the hour,
making him glance at his timepiece for confirmation. He grimaced. Rot it! Late
enough already.
In the dimness, terminals - a few with green characters flickering up
their screen - stared glassily from their cubicles. Beyond the glass
partitions, row upon row of ancient shelves stretched off into the shadowy
vaults. The soundproofed viewing and study chambers were tucked away in a
quiet corner behind a row of wood-paneled doors, one with the 'IN USE' plate
glowing. He sighed and took a guess at exactly what she'd say, then opened the
door.
"You took your time!"
He grinned. Close enough.
Mas swung her feet off the edge of the desk, spun the chair around and
glared up at him as the door hissed shut behind him. One finger was