"(Brian Plante - Moondance" - читать интересную книгу автора (Plante Brian)

THE WEEKS went by at work, and one by one the big cables were hoisted into
place along the crater's rim as the big spiderweb took shape. Each new workday
was just like the last, and Jerry liked it that way. He had mentioned to his
wife Dana that he had heard the Candy Bar was still a popular spot, but she
just shrugged and said that dance clubs like that were for young people. Jerry
grimly agreed and quietly went back to his rut.

One day a cable with a bad splice in it let go explosively as weight was being
applied. The free end whipped around and brushed a couple of Jerry's robot
legs, snapping them off like matchsticks. He still had four mechanical walker
legs remaining, and while he was not stable enough for work duties, Jerry
was able to limp the robot over to the repair shop. The robot mechanic wiggled
over in a familiar gait to greet him.

"Hey, robot 60148. Is that you in there, Jerry?"

"It's me, Audrey. Couple of missing legs this time."

"So I see. Well, that'll surely put a crimp in your dance step."

Jerry looked away guiltily. "Were you looking for me at the Candy Bar?"

Audrey went to the locker and retrieved a couple of leg units. Her robot
glided back to Jerry smoothly, without the usual bouncing around, and she
began installing the new legs.

"I was disappointed that you didn't show up at the club," she said, "but it's
okay. I have lots of dance partners."

"I really did mean to come out there, but I just couldnt convince my... myself."

"So you chickened out. Happens to the best of them, I'm afraid."

"Audrey, if an older guy like me showed up at the Candy Bar. wouldn't people
stare?"

"Maybe if you were a really bad dancer they would, but forty's not so old."

Audrey popped the two new legs into the empty sockets and began testing them.

"I, um, wasn't quite honest about that," Jerrv said. "Actually, I'm closer
to fifty."

"It still wouldn't matter. It's how young you feel that counts. You come to
the club, and you'll be surprised."

"Are there many older people at the Candy Bar?"

"A few. Nobody thinks they're strange, and they seem to have a good time. Why
are you fighting with yourself over this? Just come on out and see for