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

"This is Wilbur F. Jewell, Dorothy, one of our neighbor's boys."

"Hello," said Dorothy. Across the fields, there was a white house, with two
windows, and an extension. "Is that your house?"

"Yes indeed."

"It's lopsided," said Dorothy.

"Dorothy, this is Kansas, and in Kansas we take account of manners. The
Jewells came here like your Grandfather Matthew and built that house
themselves."

"We should have built a new one by now," said Wilbur quietly.

There was more chat. Some long-term trouble was spoken of: banks and
payments. The smoke from Wilbur's house was blue and hung in the air like
fog.

"Tell your mother I'll be along as soon as I can," said Aunty Em, sounding
worried. The neighbors parted. Wilbur walked backward, waving his hat.

"Let's hope the rain don't wash the crops away," called Uncle Henry from
the wagon.

"Goodbye, Will!" called Dorothy. She liked the way he was put together, like
a bundle of sticks.

Aunty Em sat straight and still for a while, and then seemed to blow out as
though she had been holding her breath. "Well!" she exclaimed. "Boy his
age with nothing better to do than sit all day by the road like a scarecrow
on a Sunday! What is his father thinking of?"

"I reckon old Bob Jewell's giving up," said Uncle Henry. His voice went lower
and quieter. "The land can break a man, Em."

"Depends on the man," sniffed Aunty Em. She was pulling her hair again.

Home came slowly toward them. Home was small and gray, a tiny box of
even, unpainted planks of wood, with a large stone chimney and no porch,
just steps. It nestled between two hills that reached from oppo-site
directions into the valley. Dark twisted woodland reared up behind it. The
barn sagged. Dorothy took account of manners and was silent. Toto began
to bark over and over.

Aunty Em covered her ears. "Dorothy, try to still your dog, could you?"

"Ssh, Toto," said Dorothy. Deep in his throat, teeth slightly bared, Toto
kept growling.