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

IтАЩve been preparing, and not just in my visits to the Room. IтАЩve spent
most of my free time examining RiyaтАЩs device. IтАЩve run it through my
computers, trying to find its origin, and cannot.

It is made of familiar materials, but theyтАЩre grafted onto a center that I
do not recognize or understand. The materials in that center arenтАЩt anything
like what I found on the Dignity Vessel or here at the station, and for that IтАЩm
relieved.

It doesnтАЩt seem to do much when it turns onтАФI get a small energy
spike, and lights run along the edges of the device. But I donтАЩt sense the
bubble or see momentary shimmer or something that would imply an actual
shield going around me.

But a lot of things work without being obvious. And IтАЩm not testing the
device in zero-G. IтАЩm testing it in Earth Normal, in full environment. I donтАЩt
want to test it outside the ship, lest I cause problems.

I wish I knew more about the device, but Riya canтАЩt tell me much. She
says she got the shield through her fatherтАЩs connections.

She can tell me nothing else.

So I memorize the exterior dimensions of the Room, so that I can find
the edges even if I canтАЩt see them. And I try to ignore the music in my head,
which seems to grow each and every day.

Grow isnтАЩt exactly the right word. The music plays a little longer each
time I тАЬhearтАЭ it. It isnтАЩt louder or any more insistent. ItтАЩs just harder to shut
off.

IтАЩm actually becoming used to it. In the past it would distract me and I
would have to concentrate on anything outside myself while the voices
sang. Now theyтАЩre a background accompaniment, and I wonder if I would
actually notice them if I werenтАЩt planning to go back inside the Room so
soon.

The night before I go in, Karl calls me to his quarters. I havenтАЩt been
up to them since I assigned them. IтАЩm startled to see that heтАЩs blocked the
view of the station, but has left the portals that open to the space views
clear.

HeтАЩs sitting near the clear portals, his back reflected in them. His eyes
are wide, and for the first time since IтАЩve given him control, I worry that heтАЩs
not up to it.

Something has unsettled him.

тАЬYou okay?тАЭ I ask as I sit across from him. My back is to the station.