"Kristine Kathryn Rusch - The Room of Lost Souls" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rusch Kristine Kathryn)

She was staring at him. He hadnтАЩt looked up once.

After a moment, he shook his head a third time, as if he were arguing
with himself.

тАЬNever mind,тАЭ he said. тАЬIтАЩm just tired.тАЭ

Which gave her an excuse to leave.

She had no sense that it was the last time sheтАЩd see him. The next
day, he had left the outpost.

And she never heard from him again.

****

тАЬIтАЩm sorry,тАЭ I say after giving her a moment to return from the memory.
тАЬI donтАЩt see how all of that meant he didnтАЩt plan to go to the ceremony. I
donтАЩt see how this relates to the Room of Lost Souls.тАЭ

She raises her eyebrows in surprise. I get the distinct feeling she has
just decided IтАЩm dumb.

тАЬHe wasnтАЩt thinking about the future,тАЭ she says. тАЬHe was thinking about
the past.тАЭ

тАЬI got that,тАЭ I say, and hope the words arenтАЩt too defensive. тАЬBut he
makes no mention of the ceremonies or of the Room. So IтАЩm not sure how
you made the connection all these years later.тАЭ

A slight frown creases the bridge of her nose. тАЬThe Room,тАЭ she says,
тАЬis a pilgrimage. Some say itтАЩs a sacred place. Others believe only the
damned can visit it.тАЭ

My breath catches. I havenтАЩt heard any of that before. Or maybe I
have. I used to make it a practice not to listen to stories about the Room
because I believed no one could understand that place if they hadnтАЩt been
there.

тАЬAll right,тАЭ I say, тАЬletтАЩs assume he knew that. How do you know he
went there next?тАЭ

тАЬHis crew says so.тАЭ She crosses her arms.

тАЬI know that,тАЭ I say. тАЬBut you found this interchange important.
Enlighten me. Why?тАЭ

тАЬBecause I was stupid,тАЭ she snaps. тАЬHe wasnтАЩt talking about me. He
was talking about himself. His choices. His way of doing things. His losses.