"James Patrick Kelly - Lovestory" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kelly James Patrick)

The father stiffened when she named him. This was no longer idle family chatter; by saying his name, she
had made a truth claim on her mate. For a moment, she thought he might not answer, as was his right.
But whatever it was, he must have wanted to tell her or why else had he come to them?

? It's Valun,? he said. ? She's gone.?

? Gone?? said Mam. ? Where??

? To Pelotto.? There was an angry stink to the father now. ? She went to Pelotto, to live with the aliens.
?

? Pelotto?? Mam was confused. ? But the scrap is almost weaned.?

? Obviously,? said the father. ? She knows that.?

Mam was confused. If she knew, then how could she leave? ? What about her patients??

? Gone?? The scrap whimpered. ? Mother gone, mother??

? Who will give the scrap her name?? Mam reached an arm around the little one to comfort her. ? And
it's time to quicken the new baby. The mother, Valun and I have to....? She paused, uneasy talking
about birthing with the father. ? What about the baby?? she said weakly.

? Don't you understand? She has left us.? The father's anger was not only in his scent, but spilled over
into his words. ? You. Me. She's has left the family. She's an out, now. Or maybe the aliens are her
family.?

Mam rose from her settle. She felt as if she were hefting a great weight; if she did not bear the load, the
whole house might collapse around them. ? This is my fault,? she said. ? She does not trust me to carry
the baby, nurse it into a scrap.?

? It's not you!? the father shouted. ? It's her .? The scrap shrank from the crack of his voice. ? We're
still here, aren't we? Where is she??

Mam stooped to let the scrap wriggle into the pouch.

? She thinks I'm stupid,? said Mam. She felt the moisture in the rug creep between her toes. ? She has
nothing to say to me anymore.?

? That's not true.?

? I heard her tell you. And that all I read are lovestories.?

The father squished across the room to her then, and she let him stroke the short fur on her foreleg. She
knew he meant to comfort, but this unaccustomed closeness felt like more weight that she must bear. ?
This has gone very badly,? he said. He brought his face up to hers. ? I'm sorry. It's probably my fault
that she's gone.? He smelled as sincere as newly-split wood and Mam remembered when she had fallen
in love with them, back at the gardens. Then it was only Valun and Silmien and her. ? Something I did, or
didn't do. Maybe we should've stayed in the city, I don't know. It has nothing to do with you, though. Or
the scrap.?