"Dave Smeds - A Marathon Runner in the Human Race" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smeds Dave)

A MARATHON RUNNER IN THE HUMAN RACE
By Dave Smeds
****

тАЬA Marathon Runner in the Human RaceтАЭ is a science fiction story set in the milieu
of DaveтАЩs new novel, Ambassadors. Two other stories set in that world have already
been published: тАЬReef ApesтАЭ in AsimovтАЩs Science Fiction Magazine, and тАЬSuicidal
TendenciesтАЭ in Full Spectrum 4.

AUTUMN LEAVES FLOATED onto the patio. Neil Corbin counted them:
three from the maple, six from the ornamental plum. Another shifting of the seasons
тАФ what did he care?

He keened his ears for the familiar chorus of shuffling shoes or the clicking of
Joe and AlтАЩs daily game of dominoes. But not a person stirred, and none were
visible save crazy Anne over in the shade of the umbrella table. Were it not for the
birdsong in the trees, Neil would have sworn his deafness had never been cured.

A car turned into the driveway тАФ another source of silence but for the low
moan of tires on concrete. The vehicle stopped mere yards from NeilтАЩs chair. A
muscular, casually dressed young man emerged.

тАЬSorry IтАЩm late, Gramps. Are you ready?тАЭ

Nell accepted his grandsonтАЩs help in rising. тАЬYouтАЩre looking good,тАЭ the old
man said.

тАЬYou will, too, Gramps. Come on. The clinicтАЩs expecting you.тАЭ

Nell removed his elbow from the young manтАЩs grip. тАЬI only move at one
speed, Matthew. You know that.тАЭ He padded toward the car, wobbling but making
steady progress.

Matthew rolled his eyes, piled the luggage in the trunk, and went to the
driverтАЩs side.

тАЬYou forgot the trophy,тАЭ Neil said.

The item lay beside the chair where Neil had been sitting. Grumbling, Matthew
retrieved it, placing it in his grandfatherтАЩs lap rather than waste time reopening the
trunk.

NeilтАЩs hands closed over the statuette above the bronze plate that bore his
name. His hands automatically stroked the contours of the running figure, but his
attention wandered elsewhere, soaking in one last view of the place that had been his
home for so long. His glance tracked to the empty, dusty windows of the far wing.
His room had been the third from the end, just over the sign reading тАЬShadyhome
Retirement Community.тАЭ

The once-immaculate grounds bore the first small signs of neglect. The grape