"E. C. Tubb - Dumarest 23 - World of Promise" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tubb E. C)

Determination must have driven them for years and
Dumarest could guess at the sacrifices they had made. The man,
a farmer he guessed, was decades younger than he looked, the
woman the same. The youth, shapeless in his dun-colored robe,
stood with a listless detachment, the face masked by the raised
cowl pale, the eyes bruised with chronic fatigue. A family cursed
by endless study and endless economies so that one of them, at
least, would gain the chance to better himself.

But must the girl also pay?

Dumarest stooped and closed his hands about the small waist
and lifted the girl high to sit on his shoulder. As the man opened
his mouth to protest, he said, quickly, "With your permission,
sir. I have my reasons. Allow me to buy your daughter a doll."

"ButтАФ"

"Roy!" The woman closed her hand on his arm. "No,
husband!"

"He offers charityтАФ"

"No!" With a woman's quick intuition she sensed it was more
than that. Sensed too that Dumarest would not be denied. Her
voice fell, became a whisper as, ignoring her, he concentrated on
the child.

"Choose," he urged. "Take your time and pick which one you
want."

She needed no timeтАФthe decision had been made already. Her
hand lifted, the finger steady as it aimed at the second largest.

"That one." Her tone was wistful. "Please, may I have that
one?"

"A wise choice." The vendor had remained silent knowing that
to press too soon was to risk losing the sale. Now she came
forward, smiling, smoothing the scarlet hair of the doll as she
lifted it from its place. "The finest materials and skills have gone
into the fabrication of this product. Note the eyes and the way
they seem to move as you turn them against the light. The hair
can be washed and set in a variety of styles. The face is capable
of slight alteration, see?" The cheeks developed hollows beneath
the pressure of her fingers, smoothed as she manipulated the
plastic. "And the stuffing will retain its potency for years,
bringing comfort and tranquility and restful sleep."