"Roger Zelazny - Amber Chronicles, The 06 - Trumps of Doom" - читать интересную книгу автора (Zelazny Roger)

that's done I'll go."
"Where are you heading?"
"Here and there. Haven't decided on everything yet."
"You're crazy."
"Um-hm. Wanderjahr is what they used to call it. I missed out on mine
and I want it now."
"Actually it does sound pretty nice. Maybe I ought to try it myself
sometime."
"Maybe so. I thought you took your in installments, though."
"What do you mean?"
"I wasn't the only one who used to take off a lot."
"Oh, that." He dismissed it with the wave, of a hand. "that was
business, not pleasure. Had to do some deals to pay the bills. You going to
see your folks?"
Strange question. Neither of us had ever spoken of our parents before,
except in the most general terms.
"I don't think so," I said. "How're yours?"
He caught my gaze and held it, his chronic smile widening slightly.
"Hard to say," he replied. "We're kind of out of touch."
I smiled, too.
"I know the feeling."
We finished our food, had a final coffee. .

"So you won't be talking to Miller?" he asked.
"No."
He shrugged again. The check came by and he picked it up:
"This one's on me," he said. "After all, I'm working."
"Thanks. Maybe I can get back at you for dinner. Where're you staying?"
"Wait." He reached into his shirt pocket, took out a matchbook, tossed
it to me. "There. New Line Motel," he said.
"Say I come by about six?"
"Okay."
He settled up and we parted on the street.
"See you," he said.
"Yeah." Bye-bye, Luke Raynard. Strange man. We'd known each other for
almost eight years. Had some good times. Competed in a number of sports.
Used to jog together almost every day We'd both been on the track team.
Dated the same girls sometimes. I wondered about him again--strong, smart,
and as private a person as myself. There was a bond between us, one that I
didn't fully understand.
I walked back to my apartment's parking lot and checked under my car's
hood and frame before I tossed my pack inside and started the engine. I
drove slowly, looking at things that had been fresh and new eight years
before, saying good-bye to them now. During the past week I had said it to
all of the people who had mattered to me. Except for Julia.
It was one of those things I felt like putting off, but there was no
time. It was either now or not at all, and my curiosity had been piqued. I
pulled into a shopping mall's lot and located a pay phone, but there was no
answer when I rang her number. I supposed she could be working full-time on
a dayshift again, but she could also be taking a shower or be out shopping.