За разломом орла

           "There’ssomethingelse,too,"Isaid. "Somethingthat’sbeenbotheringmesinceIcameoutofthetank." 

           Amannequincametotakeourorder. IletGretachooseforme. 

           "Youcantalktomeaboutit,whateveritis,"shesaid,whenthemannequinhadgone. 

           "Itisn’teasy." 

           "Somethingpersonal,then?IsitaboutKaterina?" Shebithertongue. "No,sorry.Ishouldn’thavesaidthat." 

           "It’snotaboutKaterina.Notexactly,anyway." ButevenasIsaidit,IknewthatinasenseitwasaboutKaterina,andhowlongitwasgoingtobebeforewesaweachotheragain. 

           "Goon,Thom." 

           "Thisisgoingtosoundsilly. ButIwonderifeveryone’sbeingstraightwithme. It’snotjustKolding.It’syouaswell. WhenIcameoutofthattankIfeltthesamewayIfeltwhenI’dbeenouttotheRift. Worse,ifanything. IfeltlikeI’dbeeninthetankforalong,longtime." 

           "Itfeelsthatwaysometimes." 

           "Iknowthedifference,Greta.Trustmeonthis." 

           "Sowhatareyousaying?" 

           TheproblemwasthatIwasn’treallysure. ItwasonethingtofeelavaguesenseofuneaseabouthowlongI’dbeeninthetank. Itwasanothertocomeoutandaccusemyhostoflying. Especiallywhenshehadbeensohospitable. 

           "Isthereanyreasonyou’dlietome?" 

           "Comeoffit,Thom.Whatkindofaquestionisthat?" 

           AssoonasIhadsaidit,itsoundedabsurdandoffensivetomeaswell. IwishedIcouldreversetimeandstartagain,ignoringmymisgivings. 

           "I’msorry,"Isaid. "Stupid.Justputitdowntomessed-upbiorhythms,orsomething."