"P. J. Plauger - Child of All Ages" - читать интересную книгу автора (Plauger P J)

Melissa turned to the others, looking for supporting belief.

тАЬLook, that s the way people were, up until the last few centuries. Secrecy was what kept science from
blossoming for so long. I saw digitalis appear and disappear at least three times before it became
common knowledgeтАж I really canтАЩt help you.тАЭ Gently.

I believe you, child.тАЬ George, Sr. reached for the winebottle.

тАЬMy father spent most of his time trying to second-guess the competition. I suppose they were doing the
same thing. His only real success story was me. He found a way to stop the aging process just before
puberty, and if s worked for me all this time.тАЭ

тАЬHe told you how he did it?тАЭ George, Sr. asked.

тАЬI know what to do. I donтАЩt understand the mechanism, yet I know itтАЩs of no use to adults.тАЭ

тАЬYouтАЩve tried it?тАЭ

тАЬExtensively.тАЭ An iron door of finality clanged in that word.

тАЬCould you describe the method?тАЭ

тАЬI could. I wonтАЩt Perhaps I am just a product of my age, but secrecy seems to be the only safe haven in
this matter. I've had a few painful experiences.тАЭ They waited, but she did not elaborate.

George, Jr. got up to clear the table. He reached to pick up a plate and stopped.
тАЬWhy have you told us all this, Melissa?тАЭ

тАЬIsnтАЩt it obvious?тАЭ She folded her hands on her lap in that posture of infinite patience. тАЬNo, I suppose it
isnтАЩt unless youтАЩve lived as I have.

тАЬAfter my father died, I hung around Athens for a whileтАФdid I mention, that's where we lived? But too
many people knew me and began to wonder out loud about why I wasnтАЩt growing up. Some of the other
wizards began to eye me speculatively, before I wised up and got out of town. I didnтАЩt want to die a
prisoner before anyone figured out I bad nothing useful to divulge.

тАЬI soon found that I couldnтАЩt escape from my basic problem. ThereтАЩs always someone happy to take in a
child, particularly a healthy one thatтАЩs willing to do more than her share of the work. But after a few
years, it would become obvious that I was not growing up like other children. Suspicion would lead to
fear, and fear always leads to trouble. I've learned to Judge to a nicety when itтАЩs time to move on.тАЭ

George, Jr. placed a covered server on the table and unveiled a chocolate layer cake. Lake all children
throughout time, Melissa grinned in delight.

If s a decided nuisance looking like -a childтАФbeing a childтАФparticularly now. You canтАЩt just go get a
job and rent your own apartment. You canтАЩt apply for a driverтАЩs license. You have to belong to
someone and be In school, or some government busybody will be causing trouble. And with modern
recordkeeping, you have to build a believable existence on paper too. ThatтАЩs getting harder all the time.тАЬ