"Allen Steele - A King of Infinite Space" - читать интересную книгу автора (Steele Allen)

I don't realize that I've spoken aloud until Erin turns to look at me.

"Really?" she says. "I didn't know you were enjoying yourself so much."

Startled by her voice, I look at her, and it's almost as if I'm seeing her for the first time. God, she's so
beautiful. A warm breeze has caught her long, fine hair and cast it back from her face; the setting sun
has highlighted it and made it golden. There isn't an inch of her body that I don't know, yet in this instant
she's as new to me as the moment when we first met, and although what I just said was meant to be
ironic, I suddenly realize that it's truthful.

This is the best day of my life.

This same time next year I'll be twenty-six, and ten years later I'll be thirty-six, and twenty years after
that Til be forty-six; if I'm still alive by then, this stoned summer afternoon will be another faded
memory of a middle-aged man who has long since discarded his youth and become the CEO of Tucker
Brothers Enterprises, with an ex-wife who now lives in Los Angeles with her third husband and a son I'll
see only occasionally, and then only to give worthless presents to....

Like the aluminum dog tag that hangs around my neck on a silver link chain like a weird medal of St.
Christopher. My father gave it to me last February, when he took me out to my usual birthday dinner at
Tony's. One of the few times I ever see him; most of the time, he's either at the office or in another
country, making another business deal. Toaster ovens to Russians who can't buy bread. I smoked a bone
in my car before going into the four-star Italian restaurant, so I was pretty stoned at the time and don't
remember why he said it was so important that I have this thing... but, y'know, it's stamped with my
name and the phone number of some company called the Immortality Partnership, and since it looks
kinda punk I wear it from time to time, including today. Shemp's dad gave him one, too, and we get a
laughout of them. If we get killed, these things are supposed to make sure that we have a second chance.

Uh-huh. Sure. And you can grow up to be the next president of the United States. I mean, it's possible. ...

I can't articulate any of this, though. I've smoked too much, drunk too much; my mind has been turned to
mush by heat and loud music and the crush of bodies. All I can do is look into Erin's pale green eyes and
say something I've said to other girls before, but never with any sincerity. Until now.

"I love you," I say. "I love you so much."

Erin blinks. For an instant, there's doubt in her face. She has had other boyfriends before me; doubtless
they've muttered the same thing as they've tried to get her into bed. But I don't grab at her and I don't
look away and I don't make a smartass remark, and finally there's acceptance in her eyes.

"I love you, too," she says at last, then she puts her arms around me and pulls me close.


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 Steele, Allen - [Near-Space 05] - A King of Infinite Space

The house lights dim and everyone rises to their feet. I wrap my arms around her shoulders and duck my
head to receive a kiss that makes the world disappear for a moment.