"Stanislaw Lem - Automathew's Friend2" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lem Stanislaw)

not see a single member of the crew, he was alone in the
lifeboat,
alone in the midst of the raging sea, and he trembled, certain
that
the next roller would sink the little boat and him along with it.
The wind howled, from the low clouds torrents lashed the heaving
surface of the sea, and he still could not hear what Alfred had
to
say to him. Then in the confusion he observed some blurry shapes
covered with a seething white; this was the shore of an unknown
land, upon which the waves were breaking. With a loud scrape the
boat ran aground on some rocks, and Automatthew, thoroughly
drenched
and dripping salt water, set off on shaky legs, with the last of
his
strength, seeking the refuge of the land's interior, as far away
as
possible from the ocean waves. At the foot of a rock he sank to
earth and fell into a dreamless sleep of exhaustion.



Part 3. Friendly Advice
Back to: TOC | Lem
He was wakened by a tactful whistling. It was Alfred reminding
him
of its friendly presence.
"Ah, how splendid that you're there, Alfred, only now do I see
what
a good thing it is to have you with, or rather, in me!" cried
Automatthew, recovering his senses. He looked around. The sun was
shining, the sea was still choppy, but the menacing high waves
had
disappeared, the thunderclouds, the rain. Unfortunately the boat
had
disappeared as well. The storm must have raged in the night with
incredible force, sweeping up and carrying out to sea the boat
that
had saved Automatthew. He jumped to his feet and began running
along
the shore, only to return in ten minutes to the very same spot.
He
was on a desert island, and a small one in the bargain. Not a
particularly encouraging state of affairs. But no matter, he had
his
Alfred with him! He quickly informed it of just how things stood
and
asked for some advice.
"Ha! Humph!" said Alfred. "A situation indeed! This will take a
bit