"George Zebrowski - Augie" - читать интересную книгу автора (Zebrowski George)

тАЬDon't look back,тАЭ Arbogast said, looking at both of them. He was kneeling uncomfortably on the other side of
the coffee table, removing something from the side of the suitcase. He took out what looked like a black
pencil.

тАЬWhat's that?тАЭ Mira asked.

тАЬAugie Number One. He's all here, in case you ever want to go back and try again.тАЭ

тАЬWhat!тАЭ Mira cried out, then covered her mouth with her hands.

Arbogast laid the pencil down on the table between the suitcases. She stared at it. Choking sounds escaped
through her hands as she struggled to contain her feelings.

тАЬSo now what?тАЭ Jimmy asked, feeling the pit in his stomach open into dark infinity. The rest of him was
suspended over the abyss, ready to fall in and be swallowed.

Arbogast got up, came around the table, and sat down next to him. Jimmy grasped Mira's hand, and that
seemed to calm her.

тАЬHere we go,тАЭ Arbogast said.

The big threedee went on, and Augie II was smiling at them, happy and clear-eyed and unknowing, ready to
be raised again. His pale skin was perfect, his blond curls fell over his forehead, his sharp blue eyes seemed
friendlier. Arbogast froze the image at its most appealing.

Brand new, Jimmy thought, feeling something fresh starting up within him.

тАЬYou take it from here,тАЭ Arbogast said, closing the suitcases. As he got up, Jimmy felt that the man was
taking something from them, even though nothing of theirs was actually in danger of going out the door.

Arbogast picked up the cases and moved toward the exit. Jimmy felt Mira's hand tighten in his.

тАЬYou may have a special one there,тАЭ Arbogast called back.

тАЬHe has no memory of his death, of course, and more capacity than Augie One.тАЭ He laughed. тАЬYou know, he
looks like Cupid!тАЭ The door slid shut behind him.

тАЬYou okay?тАЭ Jimmy asked Mira, feeling the pit close up within him.

She nodded, let go of his hand, then picked up the black pencil and held it to her breast. тАЬWhat do you think
of Arbogast?тАЭ she asked happily.

тАЬHe means well,тАЭ Jimmy said, without telling her he thought the man was a little cracked. тАЬYou okay?тАЭ

Still clutching the remains of Augie, she nodded and whispered, тАЬBrand new.тАЭ

He knew that she was determined to do better this time. It might not be such a bad thing.

тАЬWhen he's old enough,тАЭ she said with a smile, тАЬwe'll get him an embody, and have a coming out party. That