"Richard Paul Russo - The Second Descent" - читать интересную книгу автора (Russo Richard Paul)

wasnтАЩt much light left, and she was too far from the summit. HeтАЩd been
incapable of saying or doing anything other than continuing down. He left
her behind and never saw her again.

****

Two nights later, Rafael stood with Iliana and Father Dominic on an
icy ledge and searched for the lights of Kuma-Shan on the mountain below
them. The night was cold and clear, but there were no signs of the city: no
flickering orange of the torch-lit towers, no shining reflections of the
palaceтАЩs adamantine dome, no arcing trails of air vehicles.

тАЬWe should be able to see it by now,тАЭ the priest said.

Iliana snorted. тАЬWhat does it matter? WeтАЩll never enter the city, weтАЩll
never even reach the gates.тАЭ

The priest shrugged. He dug around in his parka and came up with a
cigarette and lighter. He lit the cigarette and coughed, and Iliana just shook
her head.

тАЬDid we see it on the first descent?тАЭ Rafael asked. He canтАЩt
remember, canтАЩt remember if they should have seen it.

Father Dominic continued smoking, giving no indication heтАЩd heard
the question. Iliana looked at Rafael, her gaze steady, eyes lit by the stars
and the glow of the priestтАЩs cigarette. тАЬYou know better than to ask that,тАЭ
she told him.

No I donтАЩt, Rafael thought, but he didnтАЩt say it.
 ****

Rafael has a wife and a six-year-old daughter back home, though he
isnтАЩt always certain of that. Their names are Kiyoko and Leila, but their faces
are vague in his memory, he has difficulty recalling their images in much
detail. He hasnтАЩt seen them in months, hasnтАЩt had any contact with them in
all that time. At times he wonders if theyтАЩre still waiting for him, and at other
times he feels certain that they will wait the rest of their lives, even if he
never returns.

****

тАЬWho were you talking to up on the ridge?тАЭ Iliana asked. A frown of
concern tightened her forehead.

тАЬYusuf,тАЭ Rafael answered, confused. тАЬWho else could it have been?тАЭ

The frown changed to a hard and steady gaze. тАЬYusuf is dead.тАЭ

Her words made no sense to him. тАЬDead?тАЭ