"Robert Reed - A Billion Eves" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reed Robert)

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Yet luck occasionally smiles, particularly on the most afflicted souls. They were still a couple
hundred miles from the mountains when the radiator hose burst. Suddenly the hot July air was
filled with hissing steam and the sweet taste of antifreeze. Father invested a few moments cursing
God and the First Father before he pulled onto the shoulder. тАЬStay inside,тАЭ he ordered. Then he
climbed out and lifted the long hood with a metallic screech, breathing deeply before vanishing
into the swirling, superheated cloud.

Sandor wanted to help. He practically begged Mom for the chance. But she shot a warning stare
back at him, saying, тАЬNo, young father. You're staying with me. It's dangerous out there!"

"It's not,тАЭ Kala's brother maintained.

But an instant later, as if to prove Mom correct, Father cried out. He screamed twice. The poor
man had burned his right hand with the scalding water. And as if to balance his misery, he then
blindly reached out with his left hand, briefly touching the overheated engine block.

"Are you all right?тАЭ Mom called out.

Father dropped the hood and stared in through the windshield, pale as a tortoise egg and wincing
in misery.

"Leave that hood open,тАЭ Sandor shouted. тАЬJust a crack!"

"Why?тАЭ the burnt man asked.

"To let the air blow through and cool the engine,тАЭ the boy explained. He wasn't two years older
than Kala, but unlike either parent, Sandor had a pragmatic genius for machinery and other
necessities of life. Leaning toward his little sister, he said, тАЬIf we're lucky, all we'll need is a new
hose and fluid."

But we aren't lucky people, she kept thinking.

They had left home on the Friday Sabbath, which meant that most of the world was closed for
business. Yet despite Kala's misgivings, this proved to be an exceptional day: Father drove their
wounded car back to the last intersection, and through some uncommon fluke, they found a little
fix-it and fuel shop that was open. A burly old gentleman welcomed them with cornbread and
promises of a quick repair. He gave Father a medicating salve and showed the women a new
Lady's Room in back, out of sight of the highway. But there wasn't any reason to hide. Mom had
her children late in life, and besides, she'd let herself get heavy over the last few years. And Kala
was still wearing a little girl's body, her face soon to turn lovely, but camouflaged for the moment
with youth and a clumsy abundance of sharp bone.

Sharing the public room, the mother and daughter finished their cornbread while their men stood
in the garage, staring at the hot wet engine.

Despite being the Sabbath, the traffic was heavyтАФfreight trucks and tiny cars and everything
between. Traveling men and a few women bought fuel and sweet drinks. The women were
always quick to pay and eager to leave; most were nearly as old as Mom, but where was the point