"Donald Westlake - SH3 - Heaven" - читать интересную книгу автора (Westlake Donald E)

began the feast with a speech: "The time foretold by the sacred writings has come! Juju-Kuxtil is here to
save us, as it was written! We have put on the sacred raiment, and we shall be saved from the yellow
rain!"

Sotto voce, while the speech went on, Councilman Luthguster asked Ensign Benson, beside him at his
other hand, "What's happening here?"

"Apparently," Ensign Benson murmured, "some physical disaster struck this colony quite some time ago
and drove these people from an advanced society, with modern religion, back to primitive paganism."

"But what should we do?"
"Go along with them, at least for a while. Until we learn more."

"But what's this yellow rain he's going on and on about?"

"We can't ask questions," Ensign Benson said. "We'll find out later."

Achum was finishing his speech: "Soon the great Juju-Kuxtil shall begin his mighty work; but first, we
shall feast. A feast of welcome to Juju-Kuxtil and his angels!"

Cheers rose from the assembled natives. Achum took his seat, and platters of food - lumpy, anonymous
brown stuff that smelled rather like mildew - were distributed. Hospitably, Achum said to Luthguster, "I
hope you like dilbump."

Luthguster blinked at his plate. "It looks quite, um, filling."

Billy Shelby had seated himself next to the prettiest girl at the feast, who happened to be Achum's
daughter Malya. Smiling at her, he said, "Hi. My name's Billy."

"Malya."

"What's the matter? You aren't eating."

"I wasn't planning on dinner today," Malya explained, "so I had a big lunch."

"No dinner? Why not?"

"I was about to be sacrificed when you all got here."

Billy stared. "Sacrificed! Why?"

Wondering but not quite suspicious, Malya said, "For Juju-Kuxtil, of course. Don't you know that?"

"Oh! Um. Well, I'm glad it worked out this way, and now you don't have to be sacrificed, after all."

She pouted prettily. "Don't you want me to live forever with you on the Great Cloud?"

Sincerely, he said, 'I'd like you anywhere."

She gave him a sidelong look. "You don't seem very much like an angel."