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

тАЬYeah I bet, because he had you.тАЭ

тАЬWell, yes. Anyway he laughed, and then Joe woke up and we had to get a bottle in him before the
Secret Service guys did something rash.тАЭ

Phil laughed, then shook his head, growing more serious. тАЬWell, itтАЩs too bad, I guess. But what could
you do. You were ambushed. He loves to do that. Hopefully it wonтАЩt cost us. It might even help. тАФBut
look IтАЩm late, IтАЩve got to go. You hang in there.тАЭ And he put a hand to CharlieтАЩs arm, said good-bye
again to the Khembalis, and hustled out the door.

The Khembalis gathered around Charlie, looking cheerful. тАЬWhere is Joe? How is it he is not with you?тАЭ

тАЬI really couldnтАЩt bring him to this thing I was at, so my friend Asta from Gymboree is looking after him.
Actually I have to get back to him soon,тАЭ checking his watch. тАЬBut come on, tell me how it went.тАЭ
They all followed Charlie into his cubicle by the stairwell, stuffing it with their maroon robes (they had
dressed formally for Phil, Charlie noted) and their strong brown faces. They still looked pleased.

тАЬWell?тАЭ Charlie said.

тАЬIt went very well,тАЭ Drepung said, and nodded happily. тАЬHe asked us many questions about
Khembalung. He visited Khembalung seven years ago, and met Padma and others at that time. He was
very interested, veryтАжsympathetic. He reminded me of Mr. Clinton in that sense.тАЭ

Apparently the ex-President had also visited Khembalung a few years previously, and had made a big
impression.

тАЬAnd, best of all, he told us he would help us.тАЭ

тАЬHe did? ThatтАЩs great! What did he say, exactly?тАЭ

Drepung squinted, remembering: тАЬHe saidтАФтАШIтАЩll see what I can do.тАЩтАЭ

Sucandra and Padma nodded, confirming this.

тАЬThose were his exact words?тАЭ Charlie asked.

тАЬYes. тАШIтАЩll see what I can do.тАЩтАЭ

Charlie and Sridar exchanged a glance. Which one was going to tell them?

Sridar said carefully, тАЬThose were indeed his exact words,тАЭ thus passing the ball to Charlie.

Charlie sighed.

тАЬWhatтАЩs wrong?тАЭ Drepung asked.

тАЬWellтАжтАЭ Charlie glanced at Sridar again.

тАЬTell them,тАЭ Sridar said.