"Smith, Wilbur - Sunbird" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith Wilbur)

"Oh bull!" Louren cut in, the excitement still bubbling in his voice. He
jumped up and strode to the screen, picked up an ebony pointer from the
lectern and used it to spot the cell-like stippling around the outline
of what he was pleased to presume was the main enclosure. "You tell me
where you've ever seen geological patterns like that."

I didn't want to accept it. I didn't want to make myself vulnerable
again with hope.

"Perhaps," I said.

"Damn you." He laughed now, and the sound was good for he did not often
laugh these days. "I should have known you'd fight it. You are without
doubt the most miserable bloody pessimist in Africa."

"It could be anything, Lo," I protested. "A trick of light, of shape and
shade. Even conceding that it is man-made-it could be recent gardens or
agriculture... "

"A hundred miles from the nearest surface water? Forget it, Ben! You
know as well as I do that this is the... "

"Don't say it," I almost shouted, and was out of the padded leather
chair, across the projection room and had hold of his arm before I
realized I had moved.

"Don't say it, " I repeated. -It's-it's bad luck. " I always stutter
when I am excited, but it is the least of my physical disabilities and I
have long ago ceased worrying about it.

Louren laughed again, but with the trace of uneasiness he shows whenever
I move quickly or unleash the strength of my arms. He stooped over me
now, and eased my fingers that were sunk into the flesh of his forearm.

Sorry-did I hurt you?" I released the grip.

"No." But he massaged his arm as he moved to the control panel and
doused the projector, then turned the wall switch and we stood blinking
at each other in the light.

"My little Yiddish leprechaun," he smiled. "You cannot fool me.

You are wetting yourself."

I looked up at him, ashamed of my outburst now, but still excited.

"Where is it, Lo? Where did you find it?"

"I want you to admit it first. I want you to go out on a limb for once