"Lafferty, R A - Nine Hundred Grandmothers" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lafferty R A)

"The living dolls seem a part of something much deeper," Ceran said.
"There's a whole complex of things to be unraveled. The key may be
the statement of the Proavitoi that they do not die."

"I think they die pretty young, Ceran. All those out and about are
young, and those I have met who do not leave their houses are only
middling old."

"Then where are their cemeteries?"

"Likely they cremate the old folks when they die."

"Where are the crematories?"

"They might just toss the ashes out or vaporize the entire remains.
Probably they have no reverence for ancestors."

"Other evidence shows their entire culture to be based on an
exaggerated reverence for ancestors."

"You find out, Ceran. You're Special Aspects Man."




-------


Ceran talked to Nokoma, his Proavitoi counterpart as translator. Both
were expert, and they could meet each other halfway in talk. Nokoma
was likely feminine. There was a certain softness about both the sexes
of the Proavitoi, but the men of the Expeditions believed that they had
them straight now.

"Do you mind if I ask some straight questions?" Ceran greeted her
today.

"Sure is not. How else I learn the talk well but by talking?"

"Some of the Proavitoi say that they do not die, Nokoma. Is this true?"

"How is not be true? If they die, they not be here to say they do not die.
Oh, I joke, I joke. No, we do not die. It is a foolish alien custom which
we see no reason to imitate. On Proavitus, only the low creatures die."

"None of you does?"

"Why, no. Why should one want to be an exception in this?"

"But what do you do when you get very old?"