"Ian Watson - Early, In The Evening" - читать интересную книгу автора (Watson Ian)

recurring hell of vacant cold?
"How time-bound is the snowdrop, never to know the full cycle of the year
in the way that people perceive a full year -- !" He faltered, perplexed
by which tense to adopt. "In the way that people used to perceive..."
Those in the congregation -- the Lucases and the Randalls, the Smiths and
the Bakers and the Baxters and others -- were tired from their morning's
toil. Since it would be another five hours or so until the development of
radio, let alone television, Hopkins was their consolation, even if the
bleak cheer which he offered lacked entire conviction.
"Used to perceive," Hopkins repeated. "Time has betrayed the Earth, and
all thereon who dwell -- who evolved here throughout millions of years --
"
Maybe it was a little early in the day for talk of evolution. Yet several
in his audience nodded understandingly.
Jonathon and Margaret Lucas, the eleven years old twins, fidgeted.
Jonathon complained to his father Richard: "Why do I have to gather muck
every morning?"
Margaret pestered her mother Elisabeth: "Why do I have to weed every day?"

Jonathon dug his sister in the ribs. "That's just in the mornings,
stupid."
"I'm not stupid! I'll be doing better than you in school this afternoon."
"Why do we have to go to school, Dad? What's the use?"
"Would you rather spend all day collecting dung?" Richard whispered
grimly.
"How could I spend all day?" asked the boy with irksome logic. "There's no
muck left lying about later on."
"In that case," retorted his father, "you must collect muck while it's
available."
"It's shitty."
"Watch your tongue! You just gather those droppings to scatter on the
fallows after they've been ploughed. That's your task, Son. We all have
tasks."
"We needn't -- "
Up in the pulpit, which was still carved of stone, Father Hopkins blinked.
Unaided as yet by spectacles, he peered towards the box-pew which the
Lucases were sharing with the Baxters.
"Sufficient unto the hour is the toil thereof!" he called out. "Believe
me, lad. All of you harken to me: our mundane lives are so much more
comprehensive now than ever they were before. Our lives are so much more
extensive, even universal, by the grace of Gaea. Each day we embrace such
a gamut of experiences. What does the snowdrop know of such rich
diversity, such a varying pageant? Isn't this how we should view our
plight?"
Was Hopkins the same priest as once he had been, before the treason of
time? Hopkins retained an oratorical bent, as well as a duty of care.
However, he had abandoned all Christian theology. Jesus and God the Father
and the Holy Ghost were irrelevant to what had occurred. Gaea, on the
other hand, might be germane.
A few days earlier Hopkins had attempted to explain how and why this might