"Geoff Ryman - Was" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ryman Geoff)

Etta's smile went a bit stale. "My condition isn't so very delicate. I'd gone
to market, it was easy for me to bring some food."

"The whole county knows how hard you work. Oh, Etta, I'd just love to set
and talk, but we've got to get going before dark. Dorothy? Are you ready to
go home?"

Dorothy solemnly nodded yes, she was.

"Well, then, come along. Etta, I'll give you a hand."

"I don't really need one," chuckled Etta.

"Of course not," said Aunty Em, but didn't let go. They walked toward the
door.

My trunk, thought Dorothy, looking behind her. What was going to happen
to her trunk? She saw her dresses folded inside it.

"Dorothy dear, come along."

"My trunk," said Dorothy and found that she was near tears.
"Oh!" said Aunty Em and put a hand across her forehead. "Yes, of course."
She pushed open the door and called, "Henry? Henry, please to come and
give our little girl a hand with her trunk?"

Aunty Em kept talking, standing in the doorway. "I was just say-ing to
Henry the other day that we don't see enough of you good people out on
the west side of the city." Aunty Em's smile blazed, her eyes were hooded.
"How is your Uncle Isaac? We never see him these days, running the entire
state of Kansas by himself it seems!"

There was a clumping of boots. Aunty Em stood aside for a terri-ble,
looming man who walked past her without speaking.

"Miss Etta Parkerson, Henry," said Aunty Em, in a gentle, chid-ing voice.

The man had a long beard of varying lengths and his hair was plastered to
his scalp, curling at the tips. He wore a somewhat striped shirt and an open
vest with patches of food on it.

"Morn'," the man said. There was a distinct whiff of manure. Toto hopped
up onto Dorothy's trunk to defend it. He began barking, bouncing in place.

"Here, dog," said Dorothy, so softly only Toto could hear. He came to her
whining, and she picked him up and hugged him and buried her face in his
fur. Uncle Henry grunted as he lowered her trunk to the floor.

"Out of the way, dear." As Dorothy turned, Aunty Em ushered her through
the door. The very tip of her finger touched Dorothy's shoulder and then