"Barry N. Malzberg - Jobs Partner" - читать интересную книгу автора (Malzberg Barry N)

BARRY N. MALZBERG and BATYA S. YASGUR

JOB'S PARTNER

There were three of them -- a tall one, and two shorter ones -- and they
appeared to Judith in the Day Room, where she was gazing through the barred
windows, trying to figure out how to cajole Diana, the 8-4 nurse, into returning
her knitting needles so she could finish the sweater for Baby.

When she saw them, her veins ran ice and her bile bubbled up, burning her
throat, like those early days of empty-bellied morning sickness.

"Go away," she hissed. "You've gotten me into enough trouble already."

"Not until you say yes," the Tall One said -- or radiated. Mouthless, faceless,
he couldn't speak, perhaps, but his words entered her consciousness
effortlessly, automatically. She, on the other hand, had to speak aloud, as if
talking to ordinary human beings.

"I'll never do it." Her skin was goosebumpy, and she clutched the window bars.

"Let's discuss it reasonably." One of the Short Ones glided forward until it was
almost touching her knee.

She flinched and jumped back, glancing around nervously. Joan and Nicole were
squabbling over the television as usual, Francis holding court with Queen
Elizabeth and Samantha dancing for an imaginary audience.

"Not here." She motioned to them. "Let's go into the Quiet Room."

The Quiet Room was where you could go to be alone -- voluntarily, not like
Seclusion. It was carpeted, padded, soundproof. She lumbered down the hall, the
Beings gliding noiselessly behind her.

"Okay." She lowered herself to the floor gracelessly, easing her swollen belly
along. "Why can't you leave me alone?"

"We want the baby." The vibrations were stronger and she was shaking from them,
the infant within tossed in the whirlwind of amniotic fluid.

"No!" she shouted, backing into a corner, huddling into it, as in womb.

"What's going on in here?" It was blonde Diana, passing in the hall, crisp and
starched in her white uniform.

"N-nothing," she called back, her voice an assemblage of artificial breeze and
cheer.
She turned back to them. "What are you trying to do? Get me sent to seclusion?"

"We're not trying to do anything to you." The Tall One spoke with assurance and