"David Marusek - The Earth Is On The Mend (2)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Marusek David)

I think. At least that's my take on the situation. What does the dog
say
to that? The dog says it's that whole resource management thing all
over
again."
Someone came out of the hut, a woman leading a child by the hand. The
old
man and dog stood still and watched as she helped the child pee in the
snow next to the wannigan. The woman laughed. She sent the child back
into
the hut, then squatted in the same spot, peed quickly and hurried back
inside.
"Did you see that?" said the old man. "A family. Did you see it? What a
tragedy. What a shame." He went back to the sled and pulled a carbine
from
under the cover. "We don't have many rounds left. I was saving them for
something big we could eat." He pulled off his hood and overmitts. He
cracked his knuckles. "Then again, maybe we should sleep on it. What
does
the dog say?"
 The dog's ears went erect, and she snuffled the air. "What is it?" said
the old man. Then he smelled it too, a new odor mixed with the
woodsmoke.
"Jesus," he cried, "cod skin on a hot griddle, getting all crisp and
wonderful." He sat down on the sled. "Yes, and long, fat slabs of cod
liver just dripping with oil. Dripping big greasy drops of oil." He
stood
up. "I've made up my mind." He returned the carbine to the sled and
reached for the game sack.
The old man stood in front of the wannigan. "Hello, the house," he
shouted. When there was no reply, he shouted again, "Hello, the house."
Then he heard a click next to him. The fisherman was aiming a pistol at
his head from ten paces. The dog growled. "Now she growls," said the
old
man. To the fisherman he said, "Where'd you pop up from?"
The fisherman said, "Put your hands where I can see them."
"Glad to oblige." The old man spread his arms out. In each hand he held
a
snowshoe hare. "I make damn good company," he said. "What do you say to
that?"
- end -




┬й David Marusek, 1993
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