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

missed with every past glance.тАЭ

For an instant, RabiahтАЩs wondrous body drifted before FerrumтАЩs eyes.

Then the man continued, pointing out, тАЬIn another month, countless
people are going to look through these telescopes and see the sky in a
new way. Everyone will witness the Night in its full glory. Unless of course
youтАЩre unfortunate enough to be stuck on the Wax Islands or the Gray
Continent.тАЭ

Those bits of land were on the far, daylight side of the world.

тАЬI agree with you, Ferrum. Intellectually, yes, we know exactly what the
Night brings. But if you study history as I have ... well, thereтАЩs only one
conclusion: Each Day brings its revolution.тАЭ

тАЬBecause we expect change.тАЭ In a charitable mood, Ferrum would
concede this point. тАЬSelf-fulfilling prophecies.тАЭ

But his companion dismissed that easy answer.

тАЬDo you think something mystical is at work here?тАЭ Ferrum asked.
тАЬDo you believe in an Almighty hand?тАЭ

тАЬWhat I believe...тАЭ

Then the wind gusted, and the voice hesitated.

Ferrum looked over his shoulder, tired of their game.

тАЬExplanations donтАЩt matter much,тАЭ the fellow claimed. тАЬI accept the
possibility that one of our Gods, or even some unrecognized scientific
principle, might be at work. But mostly, I believe everything changes
because nothing can stay the same.тАЭ The smile was joyous, the eyes grim.
тАЬIt is the nature of people. Of history and our world. The old must be swept
aside, my friend. And what better place to begin than with the Dawn?тАЭ

****

Ten millions years ago, an elderly shield volcano choked on its own
magma, and moments later, a single titanic blast flung rock and dust across
the sky. The surrounding countryside was scorched and then buried. Every
end of the world saw the sun grow dim, and no doubt there were places
where a different Night held sway, too little light finding its way down to
hungry leaves and a billion blind, terrified eyes. The resulting winter would
have been sudden and years in duration. Countless species must have
gone extinct, while others prospered in the ripe chaos. But then the rich
dusts finally fell to the ground, and the climate found its new balance, and
with the patient hands of wind and rain, the remains of that gutted volcano
were gradually carried away.