О дивный новый мир

           Shewasnotaccustomedtothiskindofthinginvisitors.(Notthatthereweremanyvisitorsanyhow:oranyreasonwhythereshouldbemanyvisitors.)"You’renotfeelingill,areyou?"

           Heshookhishead."She’smymother,"hesaidinascarcelyaudiblevoice.

           Thenurseglancedathimwithstartled,horrifiedeyes;thenquicklylookedaway.Fromthroattotempleshewasallonehotblush.

           "Takemetoher,"saidtheSavage,makinganefforttospeakinanordinarytone.

           Stillblushing,sheledthewaydowntheward.Facesstillfreshandunwithered(forsenilitygallopedsohardthatithadnotimetoagethecheeks–onlytheheartandbrain)turnedastheypassed.Theirprogresswasfollowedbytheblank,incuriouseyesofsecondinfancy.TheSavageshudderedashelooked.

           Lindawaslyinginthelastofthelongrowofbeds,nexttothewall.Proppeduponpillows,shewaswatchingtheSemi-finalsoftheSouthAmericanRiemann-SurfaceTennisChampionship,whichwerebeingplayedinsilentanddiminishedreproductiononthescreenofthetelevisionboxatthefootofthebed.Hitherandthitheracrosstheirsquareofilluminatedglassthelittlefiguresnoiselesslydarted,likefishinanaquarium–thesilentbutagitatedinhabitantsofanotherworld.

           Lindalookedon,vaguelyanduncomprehendinglysmiling.Herpale,bloatedfaceworeanexpressionofimbecilehappiness.Everynowandthenhereyelidsclosed,andforafewsecondssheseemedtobedozing.