"David Marusek - The Wedding Album" - читать интересную книгу автора (Marusek David)

"This is running inside a shell," said a Benjamin, indicating the whole room. "Maybe we can
collapse it."

"Let me try," said another.

"DonтАЩt you dare," said a female voice, and a woman Anne recognized from the lecture hall
came through the wall. "Play with your new Ben if you must, but leave Anne alone." The woman
approached Anne and took her hands in hers. "Hello, Anne. IтАЩm Mattie St. Helene, and IтАЩm thrilled
to finally meet you. You, too," she said to Benjamin. "My, my, you were a pretty boy!" She stooped
to pick up AnneтАЩs clutch bouquet from the floor and gave it to her. "Anyway, IтАЩm putting
together a sort of mutual aid society for the spousal companions of Ben Malley. You being the
first-and the only one he actually married-are especially welcome. Do join us."

"She canтАЩt go to Simopolis yet," said a Benjamin.

"WeтАЩre still adapting them," said another.

"Fine," said Mattie. "Then weтАЩll just bring the society here." And in through the wall streamed a
parade of women. Mattie introduced them as they appeared, "HereтАЩs Georgianna and Randi.
Meet Chaka, Sue, Latasha, another Randi, Sue, Sue, and Sue. Mariola. HereтАЩs Trevor-heтАЩs the only
one of him. Paula, Dolores, Nancy, and Deb, welcome, girls." And still they came until they,
together with the Bens, more than filled the tiny space. The Bens looked increasingly
uncomfortable.

"I think weтАЩre ready now," the Bens said and disappeared en masse, taking Benjamin with them.

"Wait," said Anne, who wasnтАЩt sure she wanted to stay behind. Her new friends surrounded her
and peppered her with questions.

"How did you first meet him?"

"What was he like?"

"Was he always so hopeless?"

"Hopeless?" said Anne. "Why do you say hopeless?"

"Did he always snore?"

"Did he always drink?"

"WhyтАЩd you do it?" This last question silenced the room. The women all looked nervously about to
see who had asked it. "ItтАЩs what everyoneтАЩs dying to know," said a woman who elbowed her
way through the crowd.

She was another Anne.
"Sister!" cried Anne. "Am I glad to see you!"

"ThatтАЩs nobodyтАЩs sister," said Mattie. "ThatтАЩs a doxie, and it doesnтАЩt belong here."