"Henry Kuttner & CL Moore - Vintage Season" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kuttner Henry)

As for Kleph herselfЧhe was frantically uncertain the next day what had really happened. He thought he could remember the softness of her white-downed arms clasped at the back of his neck, while she laughed up at him and exhaled into his face the flowery fragrance of the tea. But beyond that he was totally unable to recall anything, for a while.
There was a brief interlude later, before the oblivion of sleep. He was almost sure he remembered a moment when the other two Sanciscos stood looking down at him, the man scowling, the smoky-eyed woman smiling a derisive smile.
The man said, from a vast distance, УKieph, you know this is against every ruleЧФ His voice began in a thin hum and soared in fantastic ifight beyond the range of hearing. Oliver thought he remembered the dark womanТs laughter, thin and distant too, and the hum of her voice like bees in ifight.
УKleph, Kleph, you sffly little fool, can we never trust you out of sight?Ф
KiephТs voice then said something that seemed to make no sense. УWhat does it matter, here?Ф
The man answered in that buzzing, faraway hum. УThe matter of giving your bond before you leave, not to interfere. You know you signed the rulesЧФ
KlephТs voice, nearer and more inteffigible: УBut here the difference is . . . it does not matter here! You both know that. How could it matter?Ф
Oliver felt the downy brush of her sleeve against his cheek, but he saw nothing except the slow, smokelike ebb and flow of darkness past his eyes. He heard the voices wrangle musically from far away, and he heard them cease.
When he woke the next morning, alone in his own room, he woke with the memory of KiephТs eyes upon him very sorrowfully, her lovely tanned face looking down on him with the red hair falling fragrantly on each side of it and sadness and compassion in her eyes. He thought he had probably dreamed that. There was no reason why anyone should look at him with such sadness.

Sue telephoned that day.
УOliver, the people who want to buy the house are here. That madwoman and her husband. Shall I bring them over?Ф
OliverТs mind all day had been hazy with the vague, bewildering memories of yesterday. KlephТs face kept floating before him, blotting out the room. He said, УWhat? I . . . oh, well, bring them if you want to. I donТt see what good itТll do.Ф
УOliver, whatТs wrong with you? We agreed we needed the money, didnТt we? I donТt see how you can think of passing up such a wonderful bargain without even a struggle. We could get married and buy our own house right away, and you know weТll never get such an offer again for that old trash-heap. Wake up, Oliver!Ф
Oliver made an effort. УI know, SueЧI know. ButЧФ
УOliver, youТve got to think of something!Ф Her voice was imperious.
He knew she was right. Kleph or no Kleph, the bargain shouldnТt be ignored if there was any way at all of getting the tenants out. He wondered again what made the place so suddenly priceless to so many people. And what the last week in May had to do with the value of the house.
A sudden sharp curiosity pierced even the vagueness of his mind today. MayТs last week was so important that the whole sale of the house stood or fell upon occupancy by then. Why? Why?
УWhatТs going to happen next week?Ф he asked rhetorically of the telephone. УWhy canТt they wait till these people leave? IТd knock a couple of thousand off the price if theyТdЧФ
УYou would not, Oliver Wilson! I can buy all our refrigeration units with that extra money. YouТll just have to work out some way to give possession by next week, and thatТs that. You hear me?Ф
УKeep your shirt on,Ф Oliver said practically. УIТm only human, but IТll try.Ф
УIТm bringing the people over right away,Ф Sue told him. УWhile the Sanciscos are still out. Now you put your mind to work and think of something, Oliver.Ф She paused, and her voice was reflective when she spoke again. УTheyТre. . . awfully odd people, darling.Ф
УOdd?Ф
УYouТll see.Ф

It was an elderly woman and a very young man who trailed Sue up the walk. Oliver knew immediately what had struck Sue about them. He was somehow not at all surprised to see that both wore their clothing with the familiar air of elegant self-consciousness he had come to know so well. They, too, looked around them at the beautiful, sunny afternoon with conscious enjoyment and an air of faint condescension. He knew before he heard them speak how musical their voices would be and how meticulously they would pronounce each word.
There was no doubt about it. The people of KlephТs mysterious country were arriving here in forceЧfor something. For the last week of May? He shrugged mentally; there was no way of guessingЧyet. One thing only was sure: all of them must come from that nameless land where people controlled their voices like singers and their garments like actors who could stop the reel of time itself to adjust every disordered fold.
The elderly woman took full charge of the conversation from the start. They stood together on the rickety, unpainted porch, and Sue had no chance even for introductions.
УYoung man, I am Madame Hoffla. This is my husband.Ф Her voice had an underrunning current of harshness, which was perhaps age. And her face looked almost corsetted, the loose flesh coerced into something like firmness by some invisible method Oliver could not guess at. The make-up was so skillful he could not be certain it was make-up at all, but he had a definite feeling that she was much older than she looked. It would have taken a lifetime of command to put so much authority into the harsh, deep, musically controlled voice.
The young man said nothing. He was very handsome. His type, apparently, was one that does not change much no matter in what culture or country it may occur. He wore beautifully tailored garments and carried in one gloved hand a box of red leather, about the size and shape of a book.
Madame Hoffia went on. УI understand your problem about the house. You wish to sell to me, but are legally bound by your lease with Omerie and his friends. Is that right?Ф
Oliver nodded. УButЧФ
УLet me finish. If Omerie can be forced to vacate before next week, you wifi accept our offer. Right? Very well. Hara!Ф She nodded to the young man beside her. He jumped to instant attention, bowed slightly, said, УYes, Hollia,Ф and slipped a gloved hand into his coat.
Madame Hollia took the little object offered on his palm, her gesture as she reached for it almost imperial, as if royal robes swept from her outstretched arm.
УHere,Ф she said, Уis something that may help us. My dearЧФ She held it out to SueЧФif you can hide this somewhere about the house, I believe your unwelcome tenants will not trouble you much longer.Ф
Sue took the thing curiously. It looked like a tiny silver box, no more than an inch square, indented at the top and with no line to show it could be opened.
УWait a minute,Ф Oliver broke in uneasily. УWhat is it?Ф
УNothing that will harm anyone, I assure you.Ф
УThen whatЧФ
Madame HolliaТs imperious gesture at one sweep silenced him and commanded Sue forward. УGo on, my dear. Hurry, before Omerie comes back. I can assure you there is no danger to anyone.Ф
Oliver broke in determinedly. УMadame Hoffia, IТll have to know what your plans are. IЧФ
УOh, Oliver, please!Ф SueТs fingers closed over the silver cube. УDonТt worry about it. IТm sure Madame Hoffia knows best. DonТt you want to get those people out?Ф
УOf course I do. But I donТt want the house blown up orЧФ
Madame HofflaТs deep laughter was indulgent. УNothing so crude, I promise you, Mr. Wilson. Remember, we want the house! Hurry, my dear.Ф
Sue nodded and slipped hastily past Oliver into the hail. Outnumbered, he subsided uneasily. The young man, Hara, tapped a negligent foot and admired the sunlight as they waited. It was an after-
noon as perfect as all of May had been, translucent gold, balmy with an edge of chill lingering in the air to point up a perfect contrast with the summer to come. Hara looked around him confidently, like a man paying just tribute to a stageset provided wholly for himself. He even glanced up at a drone from above and followed the course of a big transcontinental plane half dissolved in golden haze high in the sun. УQuaint,Ф he murmured in a gratified voice.
Sue came back and slipped her hand through OliverТs arm, squeezing excitedly. УThere,Ф she said. УHow long will it take, Madame Hollia?Ф
УThat will depend, my dear. Not very long. Now, Mr. Wilson, one word with you. You live here also, I understand? For your own comfort, take my advice andЧФ
Somewhere within the house a door slammed and a clear high voice rang wordlessly up a rippling scale. Then there was the sound of feet on the stairs, and a single line of song. УCome hider, love, to meЧФ
Hara started, almost dropping the red leather box he held.