"Michael Moorcock - The Black Corridor" - читать интересную книгу автора (Moorcock Michael)

looking out on to a darkening lawn. The floor gleams; the lights
overhead are dim.

On the ballroom floor formally dressed couples slowly rotate in
perfect time to the music. The music is low and rather sombre. All
the couples wear round, very black spectacles. Their faces are pale,
their features almost invisible in the dim light. The round black
glasses give them a masklike appearance.

Around the floor other couples are sitting out. They stare for-
ward through their dark glasses. As the couples move the music
becomes quieter and quieter, slower and slower, and now the
couples revolve more slowly too.

The music fades.

Now a low psalmlike moaning begins. It is in the room but it
does not come from the dancers.

The mood in the room changes.

At last the dancers stand perfectly still, listening to the song. The
seated men and women stand up. The chanting grows louder. The
people in the room become angry. They are angry with a particular
individual. Above the chanting, louder and faster, comes the beat-
ing of a rapid drum.

The dancers are angry, angry, angry...

Ryan awakes and remembers the past.

CHAPTER TWO

Ryan and Mrs Ryan shyly entered their new apartment and
laid down the large nearly brand-new suitcase. It came to rest on
the floor of the lobby. They released the handle. The suitcase
rocked and then was still.

Ryan's attention left the case and focused on the shining tub in
which grew a diminutive orange tree.

'Mother's kept it well watered,' murmured Mrs Ryan.

'Yes,' said Ryan.

'She's very good about things like that.'

'Yes.'

Awkwardly Ryan took her in his arms. Mrs Ryan embraced him.