"William Sleator - Interstellar Pig" - читать интересную книгу автора (Sleator William)

"We travel a lot. We absorb the sun," Zena said.

"You don't have to work?" I asked.

"Curious fellow, isn't he," Joe said, putting a hand to his dark mustache.

"Our occupation gives us ample time to travel and explore," Zena explained,
smiling. But there was a touch of impatience in her voice.

"Well, I'm pretty much of an expert on this whole coast," I said. "I could
show you lots of things."

"That's pleasant," Joe said. "Barney? That's your name, right? Do there appear
to be a lot of fishing boats in this immediate vicinity? Commercial or
otherwise?"

"Sometimes they come around the island," I told him. "Ted has a cabin
cruiser."

"How about excursion vessels, sightseers?"

"They don't come right around here." I was glad to be able to tell them so
much. My familiarity with the area, limited as it was, might give them a
reason for wanting to spend some time with me. "But there are several
excursion boats out of Dun-

stable. Whale watches and dolphin watches and things. Would you like to go
some day?"

"Love to," Manny said, with a funny little smile. "Joe adores dolphins. Don't
you, Joe?"

"Yes. And octopi, too," Joe said.

Zena put her hand over her mouth and giggled like a little girl.
"They do any octopus fishing around here?" Joe went on, grinning at Manny now.
"They do in some Greek settlements, I know. Remember Greece, Manny?"

"Oh, the way they bashed their poor little heads against the rocks, and left
them out in the sun to dry!" Manny cried, rolling his eyes, "A sight I shall
never forget!"

They were all laughing again. I didn't understand their secret joke, but I was
amused by the way they were enjoying it. The enthusiasm with which they
approached almost everythingтАФespecially their precious gameтАФwas appealing.
They were younger and more playful than any adults I knew. And the amazing
thing was, they continued to seem interested in me, and everything I had to
say, asking lots of questions. They seemed fascinated by what I said about our
house, absorbed and curiously motionless while I told them the story about the