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

"Some."

"But, Ceran, you don't understand how big this is."

"I'm the only one who understands it so far. It means that if the
Proavitoi have always been immortal, as they maintain, then the oldest
of them are still alive. From them I may be able to learn how their
species-and perhaps every species-began."

Manbreaker went into his dying buffalo act then. He tore his hair and
nearly pulled out his ears by the roots. He stomped and pawed and went
off bull-bellowing: "It don't make a damn how it began, you fool! It
might not have to end!" so loud that the hills echoed back:

"It don't make a damn-you fool."



-------


2


Ceran Swicegood went to the home of Nokoma, but not with her on her
invitation. He went without her when he knew that she was away from
home. It was a sneaky thing to do, but the men of the Expedition were
trained in sneakery.

He would find out better without a mentor about the nine hundred
grandmothers, about the rumored living dolls. He would find out what
the old people did do if they didn't die, and find if they knew how they
were first born. For his intrusion, he counted on the innate politeness of
the Proavitoi.

The house of Nokoma, of all the people, was in the cluster on top of the
large flat hill, the Acropolis of Proavitus. They were earthen houses,
though finely done, and they had the appearance of growing out of and
being a part of the hill itself.

Ceran went up the winding, ascending flagstone paths, and entered the
house which Nokoma had once pointed out to him. He entered
furtively, and encountered one of the nine hundred grandmothers-one
with whom nobody need be furtive.

The grandmother was seated and small and smiling at him. They talked
without real difficulty, though it was not as easy as with Nokoma, who
could meet Ceran halfway in his own language. At her call, there came
a grandfather who likewise smiled at Ceran. These two ancients were
somewhat smaller than the Proavitoi of active years. They were kind