"Robert Reed - Sister Alice" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reed Robert)

Lyman seemed troubled, or at least deeply puzzled, pursing his lips and shaking his head. тАЬOne of our
sisters is dropping by.тАЭ

Sisters came and went all of the time.

тАЬAn old sister,тАЭ Lyman added.

Every sister was older than Ord, and so was every brother.

Then Lyman grinned, as if realizing just how mysterious this must sound. тАЬA very old, much-honored
adult. She is.тАЭ

Ord glanced at the universal wall, and the image changed. A small dull sun was setting over a glassy sea.
An ammonia sea, perhaps. He found himself dealing with this news by distancing himself, working on the
peaceful dynamics of that other world as if it was one of his tutorтАЩs lessons.

тАЬYouтАЩre not listening,тАЭ Lyman warned him.

тАЬYouтАЩre barely talking,тАЭ Ord replied. Then he blinked, asking, тАЬHow old is she?тАЭ

тАЬHer name is Alice.тАЭ

AliceтАФ

тАЬSheтАЩs our Twelve.тАЭ The words were incredible to both of them. Lyman repeated himself, saying, тАЬYes.
Twelve.тАЭ

Ord was stunned, closing his hands into fists and using them to drum on his thighs. тАЬWhy would she come
here?тАЭ

тАЬWe received her message this morningтАжdeeply codedтАжand everyoneтАЩs excited, of courseтАжтАЭ

Ord nodded. тАЬBut whyтАФ?тАЭ

тАЬA Twelve is coming.тАЭ Lyman was astonished, but his smile seemed nearly joyless. тАЬI looked up when
the last Fifty or higher came for a visit. Our Forty-Two touched down for less than sixteen seconds, and
that was nearly twenty-eight thousand years ago. A handshake visit, she called it.тАЭ He paused, rubbing at
the stiff red hairs on his chest. тАЬBut Alice wants to linger. SheтАЩs requested the penthouse and given no
departure time. Even though sheтАЩll be bored in a nanosecond, she claims that she wants to live here.
Here.тАЭ He pointed at the white-coral ceiling. тАЬHere.тАЭ

This was landmark news. Ord imagined telling the other Golds. Tonight? No, tomorrow. On the eve of
combat. It would give him a sudden importance, a renewed worthiness. Even Ravleen would be
impressed, and jealous, and he felt himself beginning to smile, imagining that sweet moment.

тАЬThereтАЩs more,тАЭ Lyman said, anticipating him. тАЬThis news is secret. Alice made it explicitly clearтАФтАЭ

Secret?