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

does not reflect back at you.

My father claims to recognize all of this, which is making Karl grow
more and more exasperated with him. At one point, in one of our nightly
meetings, Karl snapped at him, тАЬI asked you to tell us everything you knew
about the Room.тАЭ

My father shrugged. тАЬI have.тАЭ

тАЬYet each night, you have some new observation, some new
memory.тАЭ

My father didnтАЩt seem perturbed at KarlтАЩs tone. тАЬYou think small details
are important, things I noticed, but never really thought much about. So
when I remember them, I tell you.тАЭ

Karl asked if there were other things like that which my father noted,
things he wanted to tell us.

My father shrugged again. тАЬIтАЩm sure IтАЩll remember when the time
comes.тАЭ

Karl looked at me and caught me rolling my eyes. But I said nothing to
him or my father. Karl asked to command this part of the mission because
he believed my observations and judgments would be compromised.

HeтАЩs only beginning to realize that my fatherтАЩs are as well.

****

The readings have come back from the new habitats. TheyтАЩre
composed of the same material as the rest of the station, only it isnтАЩt worn
down by centuries. It does seem newer, just like the interior furniture does.
A lot points to my fatherтАЩs theoryтАФthat the structure is being built newтАФbut
I am not sure how.

If the station is adding to itself over time, IтАЩm not sure what materials
itтАЩs using. My father seems ignorant of the law of matter conservation, so he
thinks it is possible to create something from nothing. IтАЩve never seen that
happen.

****

Then, one night, I wake bolt upright on my bed, worried that the matter
being used to make the new station comes from the bodies of the dead.

I have to do the calculations just to calm myself down. They show me
that even with every part of a body being used, there isnтАЩt enough material.

Either the station has some kind of supply, something we donтАЩt