"Paul Levinson - Loose Ends (2)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Levinson Paul)

don't think I'm such a lunatic anymore, huh?"
Laura snuggled against him. "You're definitely a lunatic
-- no doubt about that -- but maybe not about time travel."
Jeff kissed her on the forehead.
"Well, here we are at Joannie's building," Laura said.
"Don't worry, I'm sure there'll be other teachers there. Just
think of this as another great safari into 1960s culture."
***
"What can I fix you, Professor?"
"A scotch and water would be fine." Richard Atwick
adjusted his thin-rimmed glasses and quietly eyed the hosed legs
and sleek red dress of his benefactor. "Why thank you, Carla,"
he said, taking the drink from her hand, "and I must say you're
looking as lovely tonight as always."
He gulped half his drink down in one swallow and, sloshing
the rest around in the glass, began walking through the six
rooms of Joannie Pernelli's parents' apartment. The place was
packed with partiers in varying states of dress, intimacy, and
inebriation.
"Professor Harris." Atwick strode over and extended his
hand to Jeff. "I've seen you around Campus, but I don't think
we've ever formally met. I'm Richard Atwick of Biology." He
suddenly put his hand to his ear as the Beatles' "It Won't Be
Long" blared forth without warning.
"Nice to meet you," Jeff said loudly over the twanging
guitars. "Do you know Laura Chapin?"
"I don't think so, but I'm glad to now." Atwick said.
"Are you doing graduate work?"
"Thanks for the compliment." Laura smiled sweetly. "But
I'm afraid I'm still undergrad. And if you two gentlemen have no
objections, I think I'll go off and mingle now with some of my
own kind."
"Nice." Atwick watched her walk off and nodded at Jeff
approvingly. "And what are you having to drink, Professor?"
"Please, call me Jeff." Jeff tried not to respond to the
nod. "I guess I'll have some white wine if there's any around."
"Well, let's just go and find some, shall we?" Atwick
tugged on Jeff's arm and started towards the bottles on the far
side of the room. "You know, I'm delighted that you'll be
joining us again this Fall in the Sociology Department.
Sociology -- that's a discipline of the future! It's good we're
building up our faculty in that area."
"Well, I'm happy to be here at City College. It's
certainly one of the best schools in the country."
"Well, we like to think so." Atwick beamed. "Ah, here's
some sort of Soave. Will that do? Good." Atwick began
pouring. "Now I've heard your specialty is mass culture. And
you did your graduate work at..." Atwick handed Jeff a brimming
paper cup.
Jeff sipped a little and spilled a little on his shirt.