"Christopher Pike - The Immortal" - читать интересную книгу автора (Pike Christopher)

"Tell me more about the nude beaches on Mykonos," I said.

Helen lit up. She was pretty when she smiled. Her hair was brown, a no-nonsense short cut, her small
nose cute, something to squeeze if you were into such things. She was slight--two inches shorter than my
five five--but not bony. I thought she was pretty, but even though I had known her forever, I didn't know
what she thought. She had a talent for many things: singing, dancing, homework, art. Yet I got asked out
more often, even though all I could do was help my dad with his stories.

When Helen wasn't smiling, she looked like she wasn't happy. But she would laugh when I told her that,
and I would be reassured.

"The nude beaches are combined with several of the regular beaches," Helen said. "Not everyone is
naked--maybe half. But few women wear tops." Helen paused. "Are you going to wear your top?"

"When my dad's around, yeah," I said. "But I'll take it off if he's not there. I'm not that shy. But I don't
think I want to go totally nude. Are you going to?"
Helen hesitated. "If you don't, I won't."

"Are there a lot of gorgeous guys?"
CHRISTOPHER PIKE

"You mean, are there a lot of gorgeous body parts?"

"Yeah." I laughed. "Certain body parts?"

Helen nodded. "Yeah."

I rubbed my hands together. "I love vacations."

I was not a virgin, nor were Helen and Ralphy Boy. Oh, I say that so flippantly. It was not a kinky
threesome--at least, not in one time frame. But Ralph Frost would certainly remember Josie Goodwin
and Helen Demeter in the years to come-- although maybe not in that order, since he'd gone out with
Helen first. But I can honestly say I didn't steal Ralph from Helen. He had broken up with her before he
asked me out. Of course, I could have said no. That's what friends are for, I know, to say no when it
matters, as often as they say yes. But I didn't, then or later, when Ralph worked his seductive charm on
me and we did it on the floor of his bedroom beside his huge aquarium and his bug-eyed fish. Nowadays
it was hard for me to think of sex without remembering those fish. Helen, I suppose, must have the same
problem.

Anyway, I think I broke Helen's heart a little for being with Ralph, and I was sorry for that. It was kind of
a relief when Ralph moved away. Yet I didn't understand why he had never written to me--not a single
letter, not even a card. I really did care for him. Oh well, I tried to console myself, Helen mattered more.

A few minutes later the plane landed smoothly, and when it came to a halt everyone jumped up at once
as

8
THE IMMORTAL