Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 6
Ithadseemedofasuddenmostfamiliar,inmuchthesamewaythatmyfather’sbarnwouldhavebeeninaphotograph.Thenithadseemedaltogetherstrange.ButasIcontinuedtolookthehauntingsenseoffamiliaritycameback.
“TheTowerofDavid,”themissionarysaidtomymother.
“No!”Icriedwithgreatpositiveness.
“Youmeanthatisn’titsname?”themissionaryasked.
Inodded.
“Thenwhatisitsname,myboy?”
“It’snameis...”Ibegan,thenconcludedlamely,“I,forget.”
“Itdon’tlookthesamenow,”Iwentonafterapause.“They’vebenfixin’itupawful.”
Herethemissionaryhandedtomymotheranotherphotographhehadsoughtout.
“Iwastheremyselfsixmonthsago,Mrs.Standing.”Hepointedwithhisfinger.“ThatistheJaffaGatewhereIwalkedinandrightuptotheTowerofDavidinthebackofthepicturewheremyfingerisnow.Theauthoritiesareprettywellagreedonsuchmatters.ElKul’ah,asitwasknownby—”
ButhereIbrokeinagain,pointingtorubbishpilesofruinedmasonryontheleftedgeofthephotograph.
