"Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. Probationers (engl) " - читать интересную книгу автора

- No, - she said. - I am not waiting for anyone.
She looked out the window, and he suddenly realised.
- You were seeing someone off, - he said quietly.
She nodded.
- Whom? Us, really?
- Yes.
His heart froze.
- Was it me? - he asked. Grisha came and placed two chilled misty
glasses on the table.
- No, - she answered.
- Volodya then? - he said bitterly.
Grisha left discreetly.
- Such a nice boy, - she said. - How old is he?
- Eighteen.
- Really eighteen? How funny! You know, he looks nothing like Bykov.
Not even red-haired.
- Yes, time flies, - said Daugeh. - And I stopped flying already.
- How come? - she inquired nonchalantly.
- It's health.
She glanced at him quickly.
- Yes, you don't look too well. Tell me... - she paused. - Bykov will
soon quit flying, too?
- What? - he asked with surprise.
- I don't like when Volodya goes on a voyage without Bykov, - she said,
looking out the window. She fell silent again. - I fear for him. You know
what he is like, don't you.
- And what does this have to do with Bykov? - Daugeh asked with
hostility.
- It's safe with Bykov, - she said simply. - And how are things with
you, Gregory? Somehow it's unusual, you - and no longer flying.
- I will be working at the institute, - said Daugeh.
- Working... - she shook her head. - Working... Look at what you are.
Daugeh smiled crookedly.
- You, on the other side, did not change at all. Married?
- What for? - she remarked.
- I stayed a bachelor as well.
- Not surprisingly.
- How so?
- You don't fit for a husband.
Daugeh gave an awkward laugh.
- No need to attack me, - he said. - I just wanted to talk.
- Before you were fascinating to talk to.
- What, are you bored already? We have only been speaking for five
minutes.
- No, what gave you that thought? - she said politely. - I am always
glad to hear you out.
The stayed silent. Daugeh was stirring his drink with a straw.
- And I always see Volodya off, - she said. - I have friends at the
command centre, and I always know when you depart. And where from. And I
always come to see him off. - She removed the straw from her glass, crumpled