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

"All my sims say that, donтАЩt they? I just never expected to be a sim."

"Good for you," said AnneтАЩs father. "All right then." He headed for the wall. "WeтАЩll be along shortly."

"Wait," said Anne, but he was already gone.

Benjamin walked around the room, passing his hand through chairs and lamp shades like a kid.
"IsnтАЩt this fantastic?" he said.

Anne felt too good to panic, even when another Benjamin, this one dressed in jeans and
sportscoat, led a group of people through the wall. "And this," he announced with a flourish of his
hand, "is our wedding sim." Cathy was part of this group, and Janice and Beryl, and other couples
she knew. But strangers too. "Notice what a cave I used to inhabit," the new Benjamin went on,
"before Annie fixed it up. And hereтАЩs the blushing bride, herself," he said and bowed gallantly to
Anne. Then, when he stood next to his double, her Benjamin, Anne laughed, for someone was
playing a prank on her.

"Oh, really?" she said. "If this is a sim, whereтАЩs the goggles?" For indeed, no one was wearing
goggles.

"Technology!" exclaimed the new Benjamin. "We had our system upgraded. DonтАЩt you love it?"

"Is that right?" she said, smiling at the guests to let them know she wasnтАЩt fooled. "Then whereтАЩs
the real me?"

"YouтАЩll be along," replied the new Benjamin. "No doubt youтАЩre using the potty again." The guests
laughed and so did Anne. She couldnтАЩt help herself.

Cathy drew her aside with a look. "DonтАЩt mind him," she said. "Wait till you see."

"See what?" said Anne. "WhatтАЩs going on?" But Cathy pantomimed pulling a zipper across her lips.
This should have annoyed Anne, but didnтАЩt, and she said, "At least tell me who those people are."
"Which people?" said Cathy. "Oh, those are AnneтАЩs new neighbors."

"New neighbors?"

"And over there, thatтАЩs Dr. Yurek Rutz, AnneтАЩs department head."

"ThatтАЩs not my department head," said Anne.

"Yes, he is," Cathy said. "AnneтАЩs not with the university anymore. She-ah-moved to a private
school."

"ThatтАЩs ridiculous."

"Maybe we should just wait and let Anne catch you up on things." She looked impatiently toward
the wall. "So much has changed." Just then, another Anne entered through the wall with one arm
outstretched like a sleepwalker and the other protectively cradling an enormous belly.

Benjamin, her Benjamin, gave a whoop of surprise and broke into a spontaneous jig. The guests