"Arkady & Boris Strugatsky - The Final Circle Of Paradise" - читать интересную книгу автора (Strugatski Arkady)

"Who?"
"Hemingway."
"Ah... but that was so long ago, in the fascist times. But
times have changed, Ivan."
"Yes," said I, "and therefore in our times there is no
point in writing in hotels."
"To blazes with hotels then," said Ahmad. "I know what you
need. You need a boarding house." He took out a notebook.
"State your requirements and we'll try to match them up."
"Boarding house," I said. "I don't know. I don't think so,
Ahmad. Do understand that I don't want to meet people whom I
don't want to know. That's to begin with. And in the second


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place, who lives in private boarding houses? These same
vacationers who don't have enough money for a cottage. They too
work hard at having fun. They concoct picnics, meets, and song
fests. At night they play the banjo. On top of which they grab
anyone they can get hold of and make them participate in
contests for the longest uninterrupted kiss. Most important of
all, they are all transients. But I am interested in your
country, Ahmad. In your townspeople. I'll tell you what I need:
I need a quiet house with a garden. Not too far from downtown.
A relaxed family, with a respectable housewife. An attractive
young daughter. You get the picture, Ahmad?"
Ahmad took the empty glasses, went over to the counter,
and returned with full ones. Now they contained a colorless
transparent liquid and the small plates were stacked with tiny
multistoried sandwiches.
"I know of such a cozy house," declared Ahmad. "The widow
is forty-five and the daughter twenty. The son is eleven. Let's
finish the drinks and we'll be on our way. I think you'll like
it. The rent is standard, but of course it's more than in a
hoarding house. You have come to stay for a long time?"
"For a month."
"Good Lord! Just a month?"
"I don't know how my affairs will go. Perhaps I may tarry
awhile."
"By all means, you will," said Ahmad. "I can see that you
have totally failed to grasp just where you have arrived. You
simply don't understand what a good time you can have here and
how you don't have to think about a thing."
We finished our drinks, got up, and went across the square
under the hot sun to the parking area. Ahmad walked with a
rapid, slightly rolling gait, with the green visor of his cap
set low over his eyes, swinging the suitcase in a debonair
manner. The next batch of tourists was being discharged