"Barry B. Longyear - The Hangingstone Rat" - читать интересную книгу автора (Longyear Barry)

moor just as a light rain began falling. As we traveled the trail Walter
identified the features we crossed: Scarey Tor which wasnтАЩt; East Okemont
River ford, where we almost became mired; a boggy stretch between East
Mill Tor and Oke Tor, where we forded the tributaries to the previously
forded East Okemont River, climbed and crossed Okement Hill, then
traveled down the hill to ford one of the River Taw tributaries. Following that,
the car climbed the north end of Hangingstone Hill, where we at last came
to a stop a few meters north of the old observation post where several
other ground cars and two Air Rovers were parked. Walter parked his MG
between a late model gray Ford Virgo and a burgundy Renault Festiva that
had seen better days. The moment the MG stopped, Walter had a
headache preparation ready for me. As I drank that, Walter exited the car,
held his seat forward for Val and Nadine, and came around to the
passenger side, umbrella in hand for me. Terribly efficient personnel at
Rent-A-Mech. I cannot recommend them too highly.

The others on the hill, approximately twenty or so, appeared to be
curiosity seekers from Okehampton and nearby villages. Families with
children, individualsтАФno one appeared bothered yet by the developing rain
as they eagerly searched for a telly starтАЩs signs of death. As I waited for the
headache remedy to take effect, I noticed a boy of eleven or twelve,
blondish and chunky, squatting down and examining the grass at his feet
almost one blade at a time. Such concentration would have been the envy
of any Scenes of Crime officer. тАЬWhat are you looking for, lad?тАЭ I asked.

тАЬFeathers, sir,тАЭ he answered, not looking up. тАЬWhite ones.тАЭ

I was about to point out that Shad hadnтАЩt been a white duck when a
little girl with dark hair, big eyes, wearing a blue rain jacket and little blue
wellies, saw Nadine and called out to her parent, тАЬOh, Mummy, may I play
with kitty?тАЭ

тАЬAsk the gentleman, Pearl,тАЭ said a large woman in her forties, quite
disturbingly dressed the same as her offspring.
 Pearl approached me. тАЬSir, may I play with your kitty?тАЭ

тАЬAsk her,тАЭ I answered.

The girl frowned as she turned toward Nadine. Val, however,
intercepted the girlтАЩs inquiry and said to her, тАЬPerhaps later, dear.тАЭ

Pearl ran off to her motherтАЩs side declaiming frightening things said to
her by those horrible bio cats, PearlтАЩs mum glared at me, and mercifully it
began raining in earnest. Several souvenir hunters made for their vehicles.
тАЬInto each life some rain must fall,тАЭ observed Walter.

I glanced at him. тАЬShakespeare?тАЭ

тАЬNo sir. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.тАЭ