"C. L. Moore - Fruit Of Knowledge" - читать интересную книгу автора (Moore C. L)

smiled to herself and snuggled closer to Adam's side. The trouble, whatever it
might be, would keep God's attention distracted a while longer from what went
on in Eden, and she was devoutly grateful for that. She needed this respite.
She had awhile longer, then, to accustom herself to the vagaries of this
strange body, and to the strange reaction Adam was causing, before the war was
over in heaven and war began in Eden between Lilith and God.
A shudder of terror and anticipation went over her again as she thought of
that. She was not sure God could destroy her if He would, for she was a
creature of the darkness beyond His light and her existence was necessary to
the structure he was rearing in heaven and upon earth. Without the existence
of such as Lilith, the balance of creation might tip over. No, God would
not-perhaps could not-destroy her, but He could punish very terribly.
This flesh, for instance. It was so soft, so perishable. She was aware of a
definite cleavage between the mind and the body that housed it. Perhaps God
had been wise in choosing this fragile container instead of some imperishable
substance into which to pour all the innocence, the power that was Adam. It
was dangerous to trust such power in an independent body-as Lilith meant to
prove to God if her plan went well. But it was no part of that plan-now-to
have an angered God destroy His fleshly image.
She must think of some way to prevent it. Presently she would waken out of
this warm, delightful fog that persisted so long as Adam's arm was about her,
but there was no hurry yet. Not while war raged in heaven. She had never known
a mood like this before, when cloudy emotions moved like smoke through her
mind and nothing in creation had real significance except this magnificent
male upon whose shoulder she leaned.
Then Adam looked down at her and smiled, and all the noises of war above
blanked out as if they had never been. The Garden, half sentient, stirred
uneasily from grass roots to treetops in response to
those ringing battle shouts from above; but the Man and the woman did not even
hear.
Time was nothing. Imperceptibly it passed, and presently a soft green twilight
deepened over Eden. Adam and Lilith paused after a while on a mossy bank above
a stream that tinkled over stones. Sitting with her head on Adam's shoulder
and listening to the sound of the water, Lilith remembered how lightly life
was rooted in this flesh of theirs.
"Adam," she murmured, "awhile ago you mentioned dying. Do you know about
death?"
"Death?" said Adam comfortably. "I don't remember. I think I never heard of
it."
"I hope," she said, "that you never will. It would mean leaving, Eden, you
know."
His arm went rigid around her. "I couldn't! I wouldn't!"
"You're not immortal, dear. It could happen, unless-"
"Unless what? Tell me!"
"If there were a Tree of Life," she said slowly, measuring her words, "a Tree
whose fruit would give you immortality as the fruit of that other Tree would
give you knowledge, then I think not even God could drive you out of Eden."
"A Tree of Life-" he echoed softly. "What would it be like?"
Lilith closed her eyes. "A dark Tree, I think," she answered, almost in a
whisper. "Dark limbs, dark leaves-pale, shining fruit hanging among them like