"Donald Westlake - SH6 - Here's Looking At You" - читать интересную книгу автора (Westlake Donald E)

they die, they revert to their real shape. At first, we tried shooting them тАУ each of us
shooting his own imitations, because those were the only ones anybody could be
sure of тАУ but thereтАЩs just too many of them, an entire species. They never fight
back, never try to shoot us, but it doesnтАЩt matter. Violence isnтАЩt part of their nature,
because it doesnтАЩt matter. TheyтАЩve found the ultimate defensive weapon.тАЭ
Again, Kass rubbed a shaking hand across his mouth. тАЬOne of the worst
things,тАЭ he said, тАЬis that after one of us dies, they still go on with the imitation. Your
husband, your wife . . . You know theyтАЩre dead, but there they are, walking around.
And again. And again. Hundreds of them. Smiling at you, calling you by the pet
name that only the two of you knew.тАЭ
The door behind Kass opened, and a cluster of people, a dozen or more, came
in, looking concerned, saying, тАЬThere you are, Hafter,тАЭ or тАЬWhy are you hiding in
here. Hafter?тАЭ
Kass didnтАЩt even turn as the people gathered around him. His expression bleak,
he faced the camera. Beneath the friendly cries of the newcomers тАУ two of them,
Ensign Benson realized with a sudden shiver, identical Hafter Kasses тАУ beneath their
voices but clear and passionate, Kass said to the camera, тАЬGet away from here.
This is hell. This is the worst you can imagine. I may even be the last human alive
here, thereтАЩs no way to know. IтАЩm surrounded by people, and IтАЩve been in solitary
confinement for three years.тАЭ
тАЬOh, Hafter,тАЭ one of the others cried, happy and careless, тАЬyouтАЩre taping! Can
I tape, too? Shall I sing?тАЭ
тАЬNo,тАЭ Hafter said. Rising, he moved the table, shoving the others out of his
way as though they were dummies on rollers тАУ none objected тАУ and darkness
descended as he approached the camera. There was a click, and the recording
ended.
тАЬOh, boy,тАЭ Ensign Benson said. тАЬNot good.тАЭ Decisively, he got to his feet,
left HesterтАЩs workroom, hurried through the ship to the exit and went down the
ramp, looking around for the rest of the crew.
The nearest was Pam, walking diagonally away toward the ruined colony.
тАЬPam!тАЭ Ensign Benson called, and when she turned, he waved to her to stop, to wait
for him. тАЬWeтАЩve got to get into the ship!тАЭ he cried, trotting up to her.
She frowned as he approached. тАЬKybee? WhatтАЩs wrong?тАЭ
тАЬIтАЩll tell you later. Just get into the ship; IтАЩll go after the others.тАЭ And he
hurried past her toward the ruins. But when he looked back after a few half-running
paces, she was still standing there, frowning at him. тАЬFor GodтАЩs sake, Pam!тАЭ he
yelled. тАЬGet going!тАЭ
тАЬKybee?тАЭ Pam said. тАЬWhatтАЩs wrong? тАЬ But her voice came from behind him.


When Pam saw the strange woman beyond Kybee, she couldnтАЩt understand
who it might be. A survivor from the colony, for 500 years? One of the three
without graves? But that was impossible. This attractive-looking woman was
young, was certainly no more---
Was herself.
Dread touched Pam. All at once, she was not an astrogator, not a scientist, not
a rational, civilized person, but a primitive creature feeling a sudden surge of the
most basic fear. She stared, not understanding, and the woman stared back at her
with an expression of horror. тАЬKybee!тАЭ they cried together. тАЬWhatтАЩs happening?тАЭ
He stared from one to the other. тАЬWhich--- Which---тАЬ