"Robert Reed - Good Mountain" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reed Robert)

black worm trail, and the woman was saying, тАЬNo, no, no,тАЭ again, smiling pleasantly at h
foolishness.

But Jopale had noticed.

тАЬGo back,тАЭ he said.

The tall man looked at him, bothered by the interruption.

Then a stocky old woman reached up high, hitting the fellow between the should
blades. тАЬThe girl said, тАШYes.тАЩ DidnтАЩt you hear?тАЭ

Another woman said, тАЬRead backwards.тАЭ

The tall man was too flustered to do anything now.

So Jopale took the map for himself, and in the dim light, he made his best guess
тАЬWhat about Good Mountain?тАЭ

Once more, the girl said, тАЬYes.тАЭ

тАЬWhat kind of name is that?тАЭ the tall man asked, reclaiming his map, taking the
trouble to fold it up neatly. тАЬWhat does that word mean? тАШMountainтАЩ? IтАЩve never heard it
before.тАЭ

But the game was finished. Suddenly the old caretaker had returned, carrying an
empty bucket with one bony hand. тАЬThis is the station at WorldтАЩs Edge,тАЭ Master Brace
out.
 The worm had come to a stop.

тАЬMy baby needs to breathe and to eat her fill,тАЭ he reminded everyone. тАЬSo pleas
you must disembark. With your luggage, and with your tickets.тАЭ Then a look of mischie
came into the weathered face, and he added, тАЬBut if you will, please leave your hopes
behind. IтАЩd like to claim a few of them for myself.тАЭ

A few passengers laughed at his bleak humor. But most just shook their heads a
growled to themselves, or they quietly spat on the smooth pink floor.

The young woman was picking up her book and bags and her heavy boots, a joy
smile setting her apart from everyone else.

About her destinationтАФthe enigmatic Good MountainтАФshe said nothing at all.

****

A MOUTHFUL OF HISTORY

Every homeland was once new land, small and thin, pushed about by the willful winds.
the ground where Jopale grew up was still relatively young, and for much of its life, it h
been a free-drifting body.