Грань будущего
Chapter 3
"IthoughtgreenteacamefromChina."
"Itmayhavestartedthere,butitwasperfectedhere.Itwasalongtimebeforethey’devenallowittobeexported.Iwonderwhatkindweshouldhave."
"Theyserveitforfreeinrestaurants?"
"That’sright."
"Afterthewar…"Ritasoundedjustalittlesad.
"Hey,thiswarwillbeoversomeday.Nodoubtaboutit.YouandI’llseetothat."
"You’reright.I’msureyouwill."Ritatookthegroundbeansandspreadthemontheclothcoveringthefunnel."Youhavetosteamthemfirst."
"Ohyeah?"
"Completelychangestheflavor.Somethinganoldfriendoncetaughtme.Don’tknowhowitworks,buthewasright."
Shemoistenedthefreshlygroundbeanswithalittlenot-quiteboilingwater.Cream-coloredbubbleshissedtolifewherethewatertouchedthegrounds.Astrikingaromawovenofthreadsbitter,sweet,andsourfilledtheairsurroundingthetable.
"Stillsmellweird?"
"Itsmellswonderful."
Usingacircularmotion,Ritacarefullypouredinthewater.Dropbydrop,aglisteningbrownliquidbeganfillingthesteelmugwaitingbeneath.
Athinlineofsteamhadbeguntorisefromthemugwhenanearsplittingsoundpiercedthethickwallsandblast-hardenedglassoftheSkyLounge.Thetilefloorshook.RitaandIwereonthegroundinaheartbeat.Oureyesmet.
Therewasnochandeliertinkleofshatteredglass,onlyasharpconcussivesound,asthoughsomeonehadthrownathicktelephonebookontotheground.
