"Robert F. Young - In Saturn's Rings" - читать интересную книгу автора (Young Robert F)

The valve was a large one, and could be opened only with a wrench. He got a large one out of his
jet-tractor and locked its jaws on the protruding valve-stem. He did not mean to turn the stem all the
way, but the wrench gave him more leverage than he thought he had and far more than he actually
needed, and before he knew what had happened, a stream of ice-cold liquid had gushed forth and sent
him tumbling off the platform.
He landed on his back and lay there dazed, the liquid pouring down on him and drenching him to the
skin. Finally the coldness shocked him into consciousness and brought him gasping to his feet. Finding the
wrench, he climbed back up on the platform and tried to close the valve. But in order to get a firm grip
on the stem he had to move into the gushing stream, and again the force of it proved too much for him
and once more he went tumbling to the ground. This time, the wrench struck him glancingly on the temple
and knocked off his ear-flapped cap. Blackness came then, and when at last it went away the stream had
dwindled to a mere trickle, and the contents of the capsule were no more.

He sat up. All around him he heard the sound of liquid running off and seeping into the innumerable
crevices in the ice. Clothes dripping, he floundered to his feet. He licked his wet lips, but he did not taste
wine.
Jack and Jill went up the hill to get a pail of water.
Day spread more invisible clotheslines in the sky and hung out more dirty linen to dry. The wind grew
sharper. Hatless, he started walking down the street in the wind.
Something was happening in his bones.
He could not get the nursery rhyme out of his mind. Jack and Jill went up the hill to get a pail of
water . . .
Faustina saw him from the Hostel, and came forth to meet him. "Are you all right, Mr. North?"
"Yes, I'm all right," said Old Matt North. Jack and Jill went up the hill to get a pail of water.
"You're wet. You're cold. Let me I help you to your room."
"Walk up the stairs before meтАФthat will be help enough."
Faustina obeyed. He followed, drinking in the sweet and thrilling youth of her. Lord, to be young
again! he thought ... and even as the thought went through his mind he felt strength flowing into his
half-frozen legs and building up in his back and arms. He felt his shoulders straightening, Old Matt North
did, and he felt himself growing taller, as one by one the weary fruitless years slipped silently away.
The wine from the stars was no human drink. It was that heady juice called тАФ youth.
No, Ponce de Leon never found his Bimini, but Nick the Greek found his. High up on the big black
hill of time and space he found it, and the waters of it were good .... Young Matt North paused at the top
of the stairs, and Faustina turned and faced him. The consternation in her eyes soon gave way to better
things. Standing on the landing in the wind, he smiled at her.
She smiled back.

END