"Kim Stanley Robinson - Forty Signs of Rain" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robinson Kim Stanley)

intersection of Indiana and C Streets, about halfway between the White House and the Capitol, and
overlooking the Marketplace. It was a very nice office.

CharlieтАЩs friend Sridar met them at the front door. First he took them in to meet old Branson himself,
then led them into a meeting room dominated by a long table under a window that gave a view of early
summer leaves on gnarly branches. Sridar got the Khembalis seated, then offered them coffee or tea;
they all took tea. Charlie stood near the door, flexing his knees and bobbing mildly about, keeping Joe
asleep on his back, ready to make a quick escape if he had to.

Drepung spoke for the Khembalis, although Sucandra and Padma also pitched in with questions from
time to time. They all consulted with Rudra Cakrin, who asked them a lot of questions in Tibetan. Charlie
began to think he had been wrong about the old man understanding English; it was too cumbersome to
be a trick, just as Anna had said.

All the Khembalis stared intently at Sridar or Charlie whenever they spoke. They made for a very
attentive audience. They definitely had a presence. It had gotten to the point where Charlie felt that their
Calcutta cottons, maroon vests, and sandals were normal, and that it was the room itself that was rather
strange, so smooth and spotlessly gray. Suddenly it looked to him like the inside of a Gymboree crawl
space.

тАЬSo youтАЩve been a sovereign country since 1960?тАЭ Sridar was saying.

тАЬThe relationship with India is a little moreтАжcomplicated than that. We have had sovereignty in the
sense you suggest since about 1993.тАЭ Drepung rehearsed the history of Khembalung, while Sridar asked
questions and took notes.

тАЬSoтАФfifteen feet above sea level at high tide,тАЭ Sridar said at the end of this recital. тАЬListen, one thing I
have to say at the startтАФwe are not going to be able to promise you anything much in the way of results
on this global warming thing. ThatтАЩs been given up on by CongressтАФтАЭ He glanced at Charlie: тАЬSorry,
Charlie. Maybe not so much given up on as swept under the rug.тАЭ

Charlie glowered despite himself. тАЬNot by Senator Chase or anyone else whoтАЩs really paying attention to
the world. And weтАЩre still working on it, weтАЩve got a big bill coming up andтАФтАЭ

тАЬYes yes, of course,тАЭ Sridar said, holding up a hand to stop him before he got into rant mode. тАЬYouтАЩre
doing what you can. But letтАЩs put it this wayтАФthere are quite a few members of Congress who think of it
as being too late to do anything.тАЭ

тАЬBetter late than never!тАЭ Charlie insisted, almost waking Joe.

тАЬWe understand,тАЭ Drepung said to Sridar, after a glance at the old man. тАЬWe wonтАЩt have any unrealistic
expectations of you. We only hope to engage help that is experienced in the procedures used, the usual
protocols you see. We ourselves will be responsible for the content of our appeals to the reluctant
bodies, trusting you to arrange the meetings with them.тАЭ

Sridar kept his face blank, but Charlie knew what he was thinking. Sridar said, тАЬWe do our best to give
our clients all the benefits of our expertise. IтАЩm just reminding you that we are not miracle workers.тАЭ

The Khembalis nodded.