"Gene Wolfe - The island of Dr. Death" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wolfe Gene)

tain."
"Pleased to meet you. You were a friend in need there a
minute ago."
"I guess I didn't do anything but welcome you ashore."
"The sound of your voice gave me something to steer
for while my eyes were too busy watching that surf. Now
you can tell me where I've landed and who you are."
You are walking back up to the house now, and you ex-
plain to Ransom about you and Mother, and how she
doesn't want to enroll you in the school here because she
is trying to get you into the private school your father
went to onoe. And after a time there is nothing more to
say, and you show Ransom one of the empty rooms on the
third floor where he can rest and do whatever he wants.
Then you go back to your own room to read.
"Do you mean that you made these monsters?"
"Made them?" Dr. Death leaned forward, a cruel
smile playing about his lips. "Did God make Eve,
Captain, when he took her from Adam's rib? Or did
Adam make the bone and God alter it to become
what he wished? Look at it this way, Captain. I am
God and Nature is Adam."
Ransom looked at the thing who grasped his right
arm with hands that might have eiroled a utility
pole as easily. "Do you mean that this thing is an
animal?"
"Not an animal," the monster said, wrenching his
arm cruelly. "Man."
Dr. Death's smile broadened. "Yes, Captain, man.
The question is, what are you? When I'm finished
with you we'll see. Dulling your mind will be less
of a problem than upgrading these poor brutes; but
what about increasing the efficacy of your sense of
- .smell? Not to mention rendering it impossible for
you to walk erect."
"Not to walk all-four-on-ground," the beast-man
holding Ransom muttered, "that is the law."
Dr. Death turned and called to the shambling
hunchback Ransom had seen earlier, "Golo, see to
it that Captain Ransom is securely put away; then
prepare the surgery."
A car. Not Jason's noisy Jaguar, but a quiet, large-
sounding oar. By heaving up the narrow, tight little win-
dow at the corner of the turret and sticking your head out
into the cold wind you can see it: Dr. Black's big one,
with the roof and hood all shiny with new wax.
Downstairs Dr. Black is hanging up an overcoat with a
collar of fur, and you smell the old cigar smoke in his
clothing before you see him; then Aunt May and Aunt
Julie are there to keep you occupied so that he won't be