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

characters, still hanging around the commissary and waiting
for the big turnaround. Everyone was waiting for the big
turnaround about then, Anderson too, but no one had looked
up the Lumps for a long time and they were almost pathetic
in their eagerness to talk. тАЬJesus Christ, Anderson,тАЭ Tom said,
extending his damaged wrist, the one that had been shot and
had never properly healed, тАЬIt's good to see you. We never
thought we'd see you again.тАЭ Charles grabbed Anderson's free
arm and rubbed it passionately. тАЬMaybe you got some work?тАЭ
he said.
тАЬYeah,тАЭ Tom said, тАЬwork, we're ready. Got out equipment
and everything. Ready to go.тАЭ
тАЬNo work,тАЭ Anderson said. He shrugged. тАЬJust some
questions.тАЭ


14
 Shiva and Other Stories
by Barry N. Malzberg


тАЬHell,тАЭ Tom said. тАЬWe were hoping for work. Soon as we
seen you, we said this is it. We're going into that town again.
You can even shoot up the other hand if you want.тАЭ
тАЬAfraid not,тАЭ Anderson said. тАЬNo town, no shooting.тАЭ He
squatted on his haunches in the old easy posture, the Lumps
leaned over him, their faces beckoning and doglike. тАЬWhere
did it go wrong?тАЭ Anderson said. тАЬWe were at the height of
our power, we controlled everything. Then we started to pull
out piece by piece, and we lost our power, the President got
shot, the kids went crazy on us, and the whole thing started
to come apart.тАЭ
тАЬForget the President,тАЭ Charles Lump said, тАЬthat was a
good one; it was a move in the right direction.тАЭ
тАЬMaybe,тАЭ Anderson said. He thought about it. Images of
the city in the sun, the fallen roses. тАЬMaybe it was but it
wasn't civilized.тАЭ
тАЬCountry ain't civilized unless things like that do happen,тАЭ
Charles Lump said. He spat. тАЬYou think it's easy taking lead
on the back lots for thirty years? Got to be some point or
purpose.тАЭ
тАЬBut it's no answer.тАЭ
тАЬAin't no answer,тАЭ Tom said. тАЬBunch of tethered horses
and old film that ain't been shown for years. Don't even show
it in television.тАЭ
тАЬWe were kind of hoping you might have an answer,тАЭ Tom
said painfully, flexing his wrist. тАЬLeast we could ask, you
being the marshal who shot us up and threw us out of town
and all that. If you don't have an answer, Anderson, who in
hell does?тАЭ