"Nancy Kress - Always True to Thee, in My Fashion" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kress Nancy)

It bothered her, a little. They had always been honest with each
other. And besides, it was such a scary thing for a young girl to do,
her fingers shook the whole time as she broke open the capsules
and a single shining crystalline tear dropped into the glass (how
much salt would one tear add? Cade had a keen palate). But she did
it. And, wide-eyed, she handed him the glass, her girlish bosom
heaving with silent emotion. Then she excused herself and went to
take a scented bath in pink bubbles and to do her hair in long
drooping ringlets.
By the time she came out, Cade was waiting for her. He held a
single pink rose, and his eyes met hers shyly, for just a moment, as
he handed it to her. They went for a walk before dinner along a
beach, and the stars came out one by one, and when he took her
hand, Suzanne thought, her heart would burst. At the thought that
he might kiss her, the V-R waves blurred a little, and her breath
came faster.
It was going to be a wonderful winter.
тАЬSuzanne,тАЭ Cade said, very low. тАЬSweet SuzanneтАжтАЭ
тАЬYes, Cade?тАЭ
тАЬI have something to tell you.тАЭ
тАЬYes?тАЭ Emotion thrilled through her.
тАЬI donтАЩt like burgundy.тАЭ
 тАЬWhatтАж but youтАжтАЭ
тАЬAt least not that burgundy. I didnтАЩt drink it. But I did run it
through the molecular analyzer.тАЭ
She pulled away from his hand. Suddenly, she was very afraid.
тАЬIтАЩm so disappointed in you, Suzanne. I rather hoped that
whatever fashion said, we at least trusted each other.тАЭ
тАЬWhatтАжтАЭ she had trouble getting the words out, damn this
tremulous high-pitched voiceтАФтАЬWhat are you going to do?тАЭ
тАЬDo?тАЭ He laughed carelessly. тАЬWhy do anything? ItтАЩs not really
worth making a fuss over, is it?тАЭ
Relief washed over her. It was last seasonтАЩs fashion. He was still
wearing it, and it was keeping him casual about her betrayal.
Nonchalant, off-hand. Oh, thank heavensтАж
тАЬBut I think maybe we should live apart for a bit. Till things sort
themselves out. DonтАЩt you think that would be best?тАЭ
тАЬOh no! No!тАЭ Girlish protest, in a high sweet girlish voice. When
what she wanted was to grab him and force her body against his
and convince him to change his mind by sheer brute sexualityтАж but
she couldnтАЩt. Not dressed like this. It would be ludicrous.
тАЬCadeтАжтАЭ
тАЬOh, donтАЩt take it so hard, love. I mean, itтАЩs not the end of the
world, is it? YouтАЩre still you, and IтАЩm still me. Be good, now.тАЭ And he
loped off down the beach and out the apart-ment door.
Suzanne turned off the V-R. She sat in the bare-walled apartment
and cried. She loved Cade, she really did. Maybe if she agreed to go
naked for a seasonтАж but, no. That wasnтАЩt how she loved Cade, or
how he loved her, either. They loved each other for their
multiplicity of selves, their basic and true complexity, expressed