За разломом орла

           Haven’tyoueverhadvaguefeelingsofdéjàvucomingoutofthesurgetank?" 

           "Sometimes,"Iadmitted. 

           "Thendon’tsweataboutit.She’llbeallright.Ipromiseyou." 

           "Perhapsweshouldjustkeepherawake,afterall." 

           "Thatwouldbecruel." 

           "It’scrueltokeepwakingherupandshuttingherdown,likeatoydoll." 

           Therewasacatchinhervoicewhensheansweredme. 

           "Keepatit,Thom.I’msureyou’reclosetofindingaway,intheend.It’shelpingyou,focusingonSuzy.Ialwaysknewitwould." 

           Istartedtosaysomething,butGretapressedafingertomylips. 

           *** 

           GretawasrightaboutSuzy. Thechallengehelpedme,takingmymindoffmyownpredicament. IrememberedwhatGretahadsaidaboutdealingwithothercrewsinthesamesituation,beforeBlueGooseputin. Clearlyshehadlearnedmanypsychologicaltricks:gambitsandshortcutstoassistthetransitiontomentalwell-being. Ifeltaslightresentmentatbeingmanipulatedsoeffectively. ButatthesametimeIcouldn’tdenythatworryingaboutanotherhumanbeinghadhelpedmewithmyownadjustment. When,dayslater,IsteppedbackfromtheimmediateproblemofSuzy,Irealizedthatsomethingwasdifferent. Ididn’tfeelfarfromhome.Ifelt,inanoddway,privileged.I’dcomefurtherthanalmostanyoneinhistory. Iwasstillalive,andtherewerestillpeoplearoundtoprovideloveandpartnershipandawebofsocialrelations. NotjustGreta,butalltheotherunluckysoulswhohadendedupatthestation.