Грань будущего
Chapter 2
Hespenthisdayssurroundedbyexoticgoodsfromcountriesmostpeoplehadneverheardof.Thereweresmallanimalswroughtinsilver.Grotesquedolls.Totempolescarvedwiththefacesofbirdsorstrangerbeasts.Theairoftheshopwasaheadymixoftheoldman’ssmoke,untoldspices,andall-naturalcoffeebeansstillcarryingahintoftherichsoilinwhichtheygrew.
"ThesebeansarefromChile.TheseherearefromMalawi,inAfrica.AndthesetraveledallthewaydowntheSilkRoadfromVietnamtoEurope,"he’dtellRita.Thebeansalllookedthesametoher,butshewouldpoint,andtheoldmanwouldrattleofftheirpedigrees.
"GotanyTanzanianintoday?"Herfatherwaswellversedincoffee.
"What,youfinishthelastbatchalready?"
"Nowyou’restartingtosoundlikemywife.WhatcanIsay?They’remyfavorite."
"Howaboutthese-nowthesearereallysomething.PremiumKonacoffeegrownontheBigIslandofHawaii.SeldomfindtheseeveninNewYorkorWashington.Justsmellthataroma!"
Thewrinklesontheoldman’sheaddeepenedintocreasesashesmiled.Rita’sfathercrossedhisarms,clearlyimpressed.Hewasenjoyingthisdifficultdilemma.ThecountertopwasslightlyhigherthanRita’shead,soshehadtostandontiptoetogetagoodlook.
"TheygotHawaii.IsawitonTV."
"You’recertainlywellinformed,younglady."
"Youshouldn’tmakefun.Kidswatchwaymorenewsthangrownupsdo.Alltheycareaboutisbaseballandfootball."
"You’recertainlyrightaboutthat."
