"Ian Watson - The Thousand Cuts" - читать интересную книгу автора (Watson Ian)

"So we're in the middle of next week." Alison began to laugh hysterically, then with deliberate irony she
slapped her own cheek. "I must remember this trick next time I visit the dentist's.тАФ Why can't either of
us remember a bloody thing?"

"I wish I could remember us making love."
Alison started to dress.

"I always wanted us to get into bed," Hugh went on. "It was one of my big ambitions. I suppose it still is!
We must have been celebrating our freedom. Our release.тАФ

"Gas," he decided suddenly. "That's it. They must have used some new kind of psychochemical to
knock everybody unconscious or confuse us. This is a side effect."

He studied the newspaper more carefully.

"Doesn't say a thing about gas. It says the police talked the gunmen out. I suppose you can muzzle the
press a little тАФ no, this was all too public. The story has to be true as written."

His telephone rang.

Hugh hurried naked into the next room to take the call.

Alison was sitting at the dressing table, concentrating on braiding her hair, when he returned. He noticed
how she was trembling. His own body felt hollow and his skin was covered with goose bumps, though
the air was warm.

"That was Don. He тАФ he reacted very rationally, for a clown. He's in the same fix we are. After Don
hung up, I tried to phone Martha. But I can't get through. All the lines are jammed. I tried to phone the
police. I even tried to call тАФ I tried to call the goddamn talking clock. Can't get it either. Everybody is
phoning to find out what the bloody time is! It isn't just us, Alison. It's got nothing specifically to do with
the Petrushka. It's everybody."

"Where's your radio? Switch it on."

"Kitchen."

Hugh fled, still naked, and she followed his bouncing rump.

A punk rock band was singing:

тАФ they'll bomb yer boobs!
they'll bomb yer brains!
they'll bomb yer bums!

The song faded.

The deejay said, "You've just heard the latest track from The Weasels. Hot stuff, eh? Like, radio-active
тАФ and that's what a radio's supposed to be: active. So I'm carrying straight on, even if you're all as
confused as I am. That's right, loyal listeners, none of us here in the studio has any idea how we got here