"Robb, J D - In Death 23 - Survivor in Death" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robb J D)

Happy families are all alike; every unhappy Family is unhappy in its own way.
LEO NIKOLAEVICH TOLSTOI


PROLOGUE

A LATE-NIGHT URGE FOR AN ORANGE FIZZY SAVED NIXIE'S life. When she woke,
she could see by the luminous dial of the jelly-roll wrist unit she was never without that it was
after two in the morning.
She wasn't allowed to snack between meals, except for items on he mother's approved list. And
two in the morning was way between.
But she was dying for an Orange Fizzy.
She rolled over and whispered to her best friend in the entire galaxy Linnie Dyson. They were
having a school-night sleepover because Linnie's mom and dad were celebrating their
anniversary in some fancy hotel.
So they could have sex. Mom and Mrs. Dyson said it was so the could have a fancy dinner and
go dancing and crap-o, but it was for sex. Jee-zus, she and Linnie were nine, not two. They
knew what was what-o.
Besides, like they gave a woo. The whole deal meant Mom--the Rule Monster--bent the rules
about school nights. Even if they'd had to turn the lights out at nine-thirty--were they two?--she
and Linnie had the most magolicious time.
And school was still hours away, and she was thirsty. So she poked Linnie and whispered
again.
УWake up!Ф
УNuh. Not morning. Still dark.Ф
УIt is morning. It's two in the morning.Ф That's why it was so frosty. УI want an Orange Fizzy.
Let's go down and get one. We can split it.Ф
Linnie only made grunting, mumbling noises, rolled away, and tugged the covers nearly over her
head.
УWell, I'm going,Ф Nixie said in the same hissy whisper.
It wasn't as much fun on her own, but she'd never get back to sleep now, thinking of the Fizzy.
She had to go all the way down to the kitchen because her mother wouldn't allow her to have
an AutoChef in her room. Might as well be in prison, Nixie thought, as she scooted out of bed.
Might as well be in prison in 1950 or something instead of her own house in 2059.
Mom had even put child codes on all the household AutoChefs so the only thing Nixie or her
brother, Coyle, could program was health sludge.
Might as well eat mud.
Her father said, УRules is rules.Ф He liked to say that a lot. But sometimes he'd wink at her or
Coyle when their mother was out and order up some ice cream or potato crispies.
Nixie sort of thought her mom knew and pretended she didn't.
She tiptoed out of her room, a pretty little girl, just going gangly, with a wavy mass of platinum
blonde hair. Her eyes, a pale, pale blue, were already adjusted to the dark.
Still, her parents always kept a low light on in the bathroom at the end of the hall, in case
anybody had to get up and pee or whatever.
She held her breath as she walked by her brother's room. If he woke, he might tell. He could be
a complete butt-pain. Then again, sometimes he could be pretty chilly. For a moment, she
hesitated, considered sneaking in, waking him, and talking him into keeping her company for the
adventure.
Nah. It was sort of juicy to be creeping around the house by herself. She held her breath again