"James Patrick Kelly - Fruitcake Theory" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kelly James Patrick)

fingers across his waist. Sure, Bjorn could do a
creditable Santa without padding but whatТs that got to
do with following the Kuvat? And whatТs so funny?
I try to say, ThatТs not true, except the words swell in
my throat like balloons. I cough and manage to choke
out, "WhatТs going on here?"
=He knows you bad or good,= The rooster says around a
mouthful of undershirt. =so good good goodness sake.=
"HeТs not stupid, Maggie." Bjorn giggles and reaches for
the last can of wine. "He just doesnТt know what he
knows." He pops it open and drinks.
"Bjorn!" I want to stop him but the rooster smell is
blooming in my head. "What have you told him?" IТm not
sure whether my feet are touching the floor.
=Kuvat not stupid.= The rooster chews with a sideways
motion, like a horse. =This one sees. This one
remembers. But only Kasaan knows.=
"Kasaan? What about Kasaan?"
"ItТs the truth," Bjorn says. "Want some?" He offers me
the MurrayТs chocolate wine and I snatch it away from
him.
=Cotton?= The rooster offers the bag of undershirts.
"No." I wave him off absently. "Maybe later."
"HeТs emitting some kind of euphoriant," says Bjorn.
"Can you smell it, Maggie?"
=Tidal of comfort and joy, comfort and joy.=
"Yes." I sit down next to him. If I donТt, somebody will
have to pull me off the ceiling. "How did it start?"
"He was talking about Kasaan. He says sheТs going to
empty him, or something. IТm pretty sure heТs getting
ready to turn in his report." He beams, pleased that
heТs finally won our argument. "I have a theory. He has
to tell the truth, right? The smell makes him do it,
feel great about it. And itТs working on us too. Tell me
a lie, Maggie."
=Lies stink.= The rooster spits out the undershirtТs
polyester size tag.
"Oh god," I say. "Oh my god." I take a swig of MurrayТs
and pass it back to Bjorn. "Kasaan is on her way over
here." The chocolate weight in my gut helps me forget
that IТm breaking every rule of following there is. By
this time tomorrow, IТll be helping Jasper centrifuge
Kuvat sewage.
=Person,= says the rooster. =You smell unhappy always.=
"I am unhappy," I say. "IТve got a right to be unhappy."
"Why is that?" Bjorn asks.
"Because we have to follow this stupid rooster around,
Bjorn! I donТt know about you, but that makes me feel
stupid. It should make everybody in the whole damn world
feel stupid."