"Kristine Kathryn Rusch - Deus X" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rusch Kristine Kathryn)

JERRY OLTION and KRISTINE KATHRY RUSCH

DEUS X

"I know where God is," Lita told her brother when he came to take her away. "I
know why He hasn't been in touch with humanity for so long."

Marcus sighed. He hated these conversations and was secretly relieved he
wouldn't have to face any more. Ignoring her greeting, he brushed a stray strand
of hair off his forehead -- he felt in disarray today --and stepped into her
room.

It smelled of incense and unchanged sheets. Her bed was made though, and all her
belongings straightened. A row of tiny golden bells extended all the way across
the bookshelf above her bed -- a bookshelf filled with history books. The tan
suitcase he had bought for her when she graduated from college sat on the
hardwood floor, her overgrown house plants in a box lid beside it.

She had already packed the suitcase. Marcus checked it to make sure she hadn't
hidden anything forbidden in the bottom, but he found only toiletries and
clothing. Light, indoor clothing. Good. She had no delusions about her
destination, at least.

"The hacksaw is cleverly disguised as the handle," Lita said as he zipped the
suitcase closed again. When he actually looked, she laughed, her high,
three-note arpeggio filling the bedroom.

"Very funny," he said, and felt a pang of loss. Once Lita had had a marvelous
sense of humor -- and moments like this reminded him how much he missed it, how
much he missed the closeness they had had. Years ago.

He picked up the bag, grunting once at the weight. Lita followed, the plants
cradled like children in her arms.

"They may not let you have those," he said.

"They always allow plants in institutions," she said.

He swallowed, his mouth drier than he wanted it. She sounded calm, almost
herself. If Phil weren't waiting downstairs, Marcus might back out -- again.

But he couldn't. Not with the campaign heating up. Jimmy Carter's crazy brother
had been funny in the '70s, but in the '90s a mayor's crazy sister called his
own sanity into question. Besides, Lita had gotten stranger in the last year,
and he couldn't control her -- or her mouth. And in Wisconsin, people didn't
tolerate odd behavior very well, especially from their politicians. He certainly
hoped the subject of God would be forgotten for the drive.
He lugged the suitcase past his own room -- which had once belonged to their
parents, before the plane crash -- and down the stairs to the entryway, where
his campaign manager waited, nervously jangling the car keys.