"Kate Wilhelm - Baby, You Were Great" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wilhelm Kate)

"Baby," Herb started, but she cut him short.

"And this is my last week. As of Saturday, I'm through."

"You can't do that, Anne," Herb said. John watched him closely, searching for a sign of weakness,
anything; he saw nothing. Herb exuded confidence. "Look around, Anne, at this room, your clothes,
everything тАж You are the richest woman in the world, having the time of your life, able to go anywhere,
do anything тАж"

"While the whole world watches тАж"

"So what? It doesn't stop you, does it?" Herb started to pace, his steps jerky and quick. "You knew that
when you signed the contract. You're a rare girl, Anne, beautiful, emotional, intelligent. Think of all
those women who've got nothing but you. If you quit them, what do they do? Die? They might, you
know. For the first time in their lives they are able to feel like they're living. You're giving them what no
one ever did before, what was only hinted at in books and films in the old days. Suddenly they know
what it feels like to face excitement, to experience love, to feel contented and peaceful. Think of them,
Anne, empty, with nothing in their lives but you, what you're able to give them. Thirty-seven million
drabs, Anne, who never felt anything but boredom and frustration until you gave them life. What do they
have? Work, kids, bills. You've given them the world, baby! Without you they wouldn't even want to
live any more."

She wasn't listening. Almost dreamily she said, "I talked to my lawyers, Herb, and the contract is
meaningless. You've already broken it countless times by insisting on adding to the original agreement. I
agreed to learn a lot of new things, so they could feel them with me. I did. My God! I've climbed
mountains, hunted lions, learned to ski and water ski, but now you want me to die a little bit each week
тАж that airplane crash, not bad, just enough to terrify me. Then the sharks. I really do think it was having
sharks brought in when I was skiing that did it, Herb. You see, you will kill me. It will happen, and you
won't be able to top it, Herb. Not ever."

There was a hard, waiting silence following her words. "No!" John shouted, soundlessly, the words not
leaving his mouth. He was looking at Herb. He had stopped pacing when she started to talk. Something

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flicked across his face, surprise, fear, something not readily identifiable. Then his face went completely
blank and he raised his glass and finished the Scotch and water, replacing the glass on the bar. When he
turned again, he was smiling with disbelief.

"What's really bugging you, Anne? There have been plants before. You knew about them. Those lions
didn't just happen by, you know. And the avalanche needed a nudge from someone. You know that.
What else is bugging you?"

"I'm in love, Herb. I want out now before you manage to kill me." Herb waved that aside impatiently.

"Have you ever watched your own show, Anne?" She shook her head. "I thought not. So you wouldn't
know about the expansion that took place last month, after we planted that new transmitter in your head.
Johnny boy here's been busy, Anne. You know these scientist types, never satisfied, always improving,