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

later, far from the celebratory racket, they were standing on a flat-topped
little knoll. Suddenly Ferrum understood what was happening, and after a lot
of consideration, he still didnтАЩt approve. But what else could he do?
Perhaps twenty other men were busy with this very important work. Rare
skills were on display. What Ferrum was qualified to do was uncoil the new
copper wires while walking quickly from place to place. It would be best if
the job was finished before evening, and the men were thankful for his help.
After a while, there was an odd moment when Ferrum completely forgot his
old objections. He discovered that he was enjoying this uncoiling and
stretching of the wires, and later, the careful planting of long tubes. Then a
gentleman that he didnтАЩt know smiled at him and said, тАЬGood,тАЭ and
FerrumтАЩs reaction was to smile back and bow a little, saying, тАЬThank you,тАЭ
with relish.
 The sun set before they were finished.

Once, then again, older men approached to complain, mentioning the
time remaining and the sorry state of affairs. But the full moon made their
work easy enough, and they were done even before the worldтАЩs slow
shadow began to obliterate the skyтАЩs brightest light.

Ferrum joyfully accepted the thanks of his new friends, and then he
returned alone to the black tent, imagining Rabiah waiting for him. But the
tent had been moved or dismantled, and his lover was still missing. Where
could she be? He walked about the camp, searching for everything that was
lost. He wanted to retreat to the car and grab his telescope, but there wasnтАЩt
much time left. The moon was already half-consumed, the Sullen Sisters
hovering close to its left limb. Ferrum spent a few moments listing the ways
that the woman had made his life miserable, and then he stopped walking,
closing his eyes while wishing he was anywhere else in the world.

Somebody called his name.

Ferrum turned and opened his eyes, finding a familiar face, and then
that face said to him, тАЬYou look so very unhappy.тАЭ

тАЬHello, Ocher.тАЭ

тАЬI know where we can find a good telescope,тАЭ the old man
mentioned. тАЬBut we donтАЩt have very much time. This way, please.тАЭ

And without hesitation, Ferrum fell in beside his newest friend.

****

OcherтАЩs telescope was set on flat ground outside the campground. It
was no hunterтАЩs tool meant to search for herds of poor-lillies and fat
blackbottoms, but instead it was a precise astronomical instrument with
three heavy legs and a broad mirror, tiny gears and motors moving the tube
along the same course that the sky took. FerrumтАЩs long first look showed
him the brilliant snows of the moonтАЩs southern poleтАФa frigid terrain famous