Видоизмененный углерод

Chapter 24

           

           Theauthormusthavebeenleaningoverthebackofthebenchwhenhecutitintothewood,butstilleachcharacterwasexecutedwithelegantcare.Igazedatthecalligraphyforwhatwasprobablyalongtime,whilememoriesofHarlan’sWorldsanginmyheadlikehigh-tensioncables.

           Asuddenburstofcryingovertomyrightjoltedmeoutofthereverie.Ayoungblackwomanandhertwochildren,alsoblack,werestaringatthestooped,middle-agedwhitemanstandingbeforethemintatteredUNsurplusfatigues.Familyreunion.Theyoungwoman’sfacewasamaskofshock,ithadn’thitherproperlyyet,andthesmallerchild,probablynomorethanfour,justdidn’tgetitatall.Shewaslookingrightthroughthewhiteman,mouthformingtherepeatedquestionWhere’sDaddy?Where’sDaddy?Theman’sfeatureswereglisteningintherainylightfromtheroofhelookedlikehe’dbeencryingsincetheydraggedhimoutofthetank.

           Irolledmyheadtoanemptyquadrantofthehall.Myownfatherhadwalkedrightpasthiswaitingfamilyandoutofourliveswhenhewasre-sleeved.Weneverevenknewwhichonehewas,althoughIsometimeswonderifmymotherdidn’tcatchsomesplinterofrecognitioninanavertedgaze,someechoofstanceorgaitashepassed.Idon’tknowifhewastooashamedtoconfrontus,ormorelikelytoosetupwiththeluckofdrawingasleevesounderthanhisownalcohol-wreckedbodyhadbeen,andalreadyplottinganewcourseforothercitiesandyoungerwomen.

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