JК
The Lovers :: Фармер Филип Хосе
Страница: 63 из 127Bride! She was certainly taking a lot for granted!
He couldn't take time to argue. Without a word, he swept her up in his arms and carried her into the apartment. There he put her down and said, 'Back as soon as possible . If anybody knocks or tries to get in, hide in that special chamber I had the wog carpenter build for you inside our closet. Don't make a sound or come out until you're sure it's me.'
She suddenly put her arms around him and kissed him.
'Maw sheh, maw gwah, maw fooh.'
Things were going too fast. He didn't say a word or even return her kiss. Vaguely he felt that her words, applied to him, were somewhat ridiculous. If he translated her degenerate French correctly, she had called him her dear, her big strong man.
Turning, he closed the door but not so quickly that he did not see the hall light shine on a white face haloed blackly by a hood. A red mouth stained the whiteness.
He shook. He had a feeling that Jeannette was not going to be the frigid mate so much admired, officially, by the Sturch.
10
Hal was an hour late returning home from the Gabriel because the Sandalphon asked for more details about the prophecy he had made concerning Sigmen. Then, Hal had to dictate his report on the day's espionage. Afterward, he ordered a sailor to pilot his gig back to the apartment. While he was walking toward the launching rack, he met Pornsen.
'Shalom, abba,' Hal said.
He smiled and rubbed his knuckles against the raised lamedh on the shield.
The gapt's left shoulder, always low, sagged even more, as if it were a flag dipping in surrender. If there were any whip cuts to be given, they would be struck by Yarrow.
Hal puffed out his chest and started to walk on, but Pornsen said, 'Just a minute, son. Are you going back to the city?'
'Shib.'
'Shib. I'll ride back with you. I have an apartment in the same building. On the third floor, right opposite Fobo's.'
Hal opened his mouth to protest, then closed it. It was Pornsen's turn to smile. He turned and led the way. Hal followed with tight lips. Had the gapt trailed him and seen his meeting with Jeannette? No. If he had, he would have had Hal arrested at once.
The gapt had one distinguishing feature: a small mind. He knew his presence would annoy Hal and that living in the same building with him would poison Hal's joy at being free from surveillance.
Under his breath Hal quoted an old proverb: 'A gapt's teeth never let loose.'
The sailor was waiting by the gig. They all got in and dropped silently into the night.
He couldn't take time to argue. Without a word, he swept her up in his arms and carried her into the apartment. There he put her down and said, 'Back as soon as possible . If anybody knocks or tries to get in, hide in that special chamber I had the wog carpenter build for you inside our closet. Don't make a sound or come out until you're sure it's me.'
She suddenly put her arms around him and kissed him.
'Maw sheh, maw gwah, maw fooh.'
Things were going too fast. He didn't say a word or even return her kiss. Vaguely he felt that her words, applied to him, were somewhat ridiculous. If he translated her degenerate French correctly, she had called him her dear, her big strong man.
Turning, he closed the door but not so quickly that he did not see the hall light shine on a white face haloed blackly by a hood. A red mouth stained the whiteness.
He shook. He had a feeling that Jeannette was not going to be the frigid mate so much admired, officially, by the Sturch.
10
Hal was an hour late returning home from the Gabriel because the Sandalphon asked for more details about the prophecy he had made concerning Sigmen. Then, Hal had to dictate his report on the day's espionage. Afterward, he ordered a sailor to pilot his gig back to the apartment. While he was walking toward the launching rack, he met Pornsen.
'Shalom, abba,' Hal said.
He smiled and rubbed his knuckles against the raised lamedh on the shield.
The gapt's left shoulder, always low, sagged even more, as if it were a flag dipping in surrender. If there were any whip cuts to be given, they would be struck by Yarrow.
Hal puffed out his chest and started to walk on, but Pornsen said, 'Just a minute, son. Are you going back to the city?'
'Shib.'
'Shib. I'll ride back with you. I have an apartment in the same building. On the third floor, right opposite Fobo's.'
Hal opened his mouth to protest, then closed it. It was Pornsen's turn to smile. He turned and led the way. Hal followed with tight lips. Had the gapt trailed him and seen his meeting with Jeannette? No. If he had, he would have had Hal arrested at once.
The gapt had one distinguishing feature: a small mind. He knew his presence would annoy Hal and that living in the same building with him would poison Hal's joy at being free from surveillance.
Under his breath Hal quoted an old proverb: 'A gapt's teeth never let loose.'
The sailor was waiting by the gig. They all got in and dropped silently into the night.