"Ian R. Macleod - Sealight" - читать интересную книгу автора (Macleod Ian R)

SEALIGHT
By Ian R. MacLeod
****

тАЬYOU WILL BE CAREFUL, dear?тАЭ

тАЬOf course IтАЩll be careful.тАЭ Ran Kirving carried his mother from her bed to the
wicker wheelchair, smoothing the blankets over the remains of her legs.

тАЬTomorrowтАЩs a big day, son. The happiest day of your life.тАЭ

тАЬYes, Mother.тАЭ He kissed her temple.

тАЬSo you will be careful, wonтАЩt you?тАЭ

Ran smiled and patted her hand. Then he picked up the bag of skidling
sandwiches sheтАЩd made him the night before. тАЬSee you this evening.тАЭ

He took the stairs of the creaky tenement three at a time, past the screams of
babies, the slow rumble of household arguments that would last into the night, the
cabbages talk reek of too many lives pressed too close together.

The courtyard was filled with flapping washing and sunlight. Ran paused to
take a breath of the relatively fresh air. As always, it was flavored with rotting
seaweed and stagnant canal.

тАЬWhat a lovely morning? a voice called.

Ran looked up and saw Piir leaning from the creaky balcony of her parentsтАЩ
tenement. She was still in her nightgown, her red hair tied back from her wide and
innocent face.

тАЬYes,тАЭ Ran said, squinting at her through the fluttering sheets, telling himself
over and over again how lucky he was to be marrying her, hoping that with enough
repetition he might come to believe it.

тАЬIтАЩve just got the hem of my dress to finish,тАЭ Piir said. She laughed. тАЬThink of
me, all in white.тАЭ She turned slightly and the flashing sunlight caught the rounded
shape of her figure, the curve of her belly that people were already starting to notice.

тАЬIтАЩve got to go,тАЭ Ran said with a wave.

Piir waved back. тАЬYou will be careful, wonтАЩt you?тАЭ

It was a fine day for fishing. The wind had veered away from the dimly foul
stench of the marshes and RanтАЩs sail snapped taut in the breeze. The sea was flat
blue and almost waveless. Even the ancient hull of RanтАЩs boat had decided not to
leak for a change.

Ribald shouts rang across the little flotilla. RanтАЩs fellow fishermen knew that