"Robert Reed - Night Calls" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reed Robert)

of weathered sandstone, he looked back at their city and the dark swatches
of irrigated farmland, bonewood and lickbottom trees dark with the season.
And with a matter of fact tone, he declared, тАЬSoon all this will be swept
away.тАЭ
 Ferrum asked, тАЬWhat do you mean?тАЭ

The manтАЩs intentions were obvious, at least to him. So obvious that he
said nothing, his mouth closed for a long moment, perhaps expecting his
companion to suddenly say, тАЬOh, swept away. I didnтАЩt hear you with the
wind. Yes, I know exactly what you mean.тАЭ

But Ferrum didnтАЩt understand, and he asked his question again.

They were workmates, not friends. But FerrumтАЩs companion was as
smart as him, or smarter, and he was definitely better read in matters of
history and politics. With a devotion to the past, the co-worker could
discuss the ebb and flow of civilizations, the relative strengths of different
governments, and the dangers inherent in ignorance and blind trust. He was
particularly fond of the great men: Those godly names that everybody
recognized, even when few understood the bloody particulars of their
glorious lives.

FerrumтАЩs companion studied him, as if examining his soul for flaws.
Then he looked back down the hill, saying to the wind, тАЬThe Night will
remake the world.тАЭ

It was an old sentiment, and perhaps not unexpected.

But Ferrum felt surprised nonetheless. тАЬItтАЩs just darkness,тАЭ he
muttered. тАЬAnd we know what weтАЩll seeтАФтАЭ

тАЬDo we?тАЭ

тАЬOf course.тАЭ History might not be FerrumтАЩs favorite terrain, but he felt
at ease with the sciences. тАЬI can tell you exactly what youтАЩre going to find
when you look through that telescope.тАЭ

тАЬSo itтАЩs not worth my money?тАЭ the man asked.

Ferrum hesitated. Was this a bargaining ploy?

тАЬIf you тАШknowтАЩ what youтАЩll see, thereтАЩs no point in looking. At the sky, or
anything else.тАЭ The man offered a wicked little laugh, adding, тАЬThat
girlfriend of yours. YouтАЩve seen her naked once or twice, so why look at her
body again?тАЭ

тАЬEnough,тАЭ Ferrum warned.
 тАЬBut do you see my point? When you and I set our eyes on anything,
anything at all, we refresh our memories. Make new what is familiar. And if
weтАЩre very lucky, we might even see a detail or two that we somehow