"Theodore Sturgeon - Slow Sculpture" - читать интересную книгу автора (Sturgeon Theodore)

that upward reach and persuade it to continue the hori-
zontal passage. And perhaps not--and it would need the
harsher language of binding and wire. But then it might
have something to say, too, about the rightness of an up-
ward trend and would perhaps say it persuasively enough
to convince the man--altogether, a patient, meaningful,
and rewarding dialogue.
"Good morning."
"Oh, god--dam!" he barked. "You made me bite my
tongue. I thought you'd gone."
"I had." She kneeled in the shadows, her back against
the inner wall, facing the atrium. "But then I stopped to
be with the tree for a while."
"Then what?"
"I thought a lot."
"What about?"
"You."
"Did you now?"
"Look," she said firmly. "I'm not going to any doctor
to get this thing checked out. I didn't want to leave until
I had told you that and until I was sure you believed me."
"Come on in and we'll get something to eat."
Foolishly, she giggled.
"I can't. My feet are asleep."
Without hesitation he scooped her up in his arms and
carried her around the atrium.
She asked, her arm around his shoulders and their
faces close, "Do you believe me?"
He continued around until they reached the wooden
chest, then stopped and looked into her eyes.
"I believe you. I don't know why you decided as you
did but I'm willing to believe you."
He sat her down on the chest and stood back.
"It's that act of faith you mentioned," she said gravely.
"I thought you ought to have it at least once in your life
so you can never say again what you said." She tapped
her heels gingerly against the slate floor. "Ow!" She made
a pained smile. "Pins and needles."
"You must have been thinking for a long time."
"Yes. Want more?"
"Sure."
"You are an angry, frightened man."
He seemed delighted.
"Tell me about all that!"
"No," she said quietly. "You tell me. I'm very serious
about this. Why are you angry?"
"I'm not."
"Why are you so angry?"
"I tell you I'm not. Although," he added good-na-
turedly, "you're pushing me in that direction."