JК
The Stars My Destination ( Tiger! Tiger! ) :: Bester Alfred
Страница: 21 из 164They followed the morning from the Eastern Time Zone to the Pacific Zone. And from eastern Greenland, where it was already noon, a horde of white-collar office workers was Pouring into New York for their lunch hour.
The rush was over in a few moments. «All right, class,» Robin called. «We'll continue. Oh dear, where is Mr. Foyle? He always seems to be missing.»
«With a face like he's got, him, you can't blame him for hiding it, m'am. Up in the cerebral ward we call him Boogey.»
«He does look dreadful, doesn't he, Sgt. Logan. Can't they get those marks off?»
«They're trying, Miss Robin, but they don't know how yet. It's called 'tattooing' and it's sort of forgotten, is all.»
«Then how did Mr. Foyle acquire his face?»
«Nobody knows, Miss Robin. He's up in cerebral because he's lost his mind, him. Can't remember nothing. Me personal, if I had a face like that I wouldn't want to remember nothing too.»
«It's a pity. He looks frightful. Sgt. Logan, d'you suppose I've let a thought about Mr. Foyle slip and hurt his feelings?»
The little man with the platinum skull considered. «No, m'am. You wouldn't hurt nobody's feelings, you. And Foyle ain't got none to hurt, him. He's just a big, dumb ox, is all.»
«I have to be so careful, Sgt. Logan. You see, no one likes to know what another person really thinks about him. We imagine that we do, but we don't. This telesending of mine makes me loathed. And lonesome. I…Please don't listen to me. I'm having trouble controlling my thinking. Ah! There you are, Mr. Foyle. Where in the world have you been wandering?»
Foyle had jaunted in on the stage and stepped off quietly, his hideous face averted. «Been practicing, me,» he mumbled.
Robin repressed the shudder of revulsion in her and went to him sympathetically. She took his ann. «You really should be with us more. We're all friends and having a lovely time. Join in.»
Foyle refused to meet her glance. As he pulled his arm away from her sullenly, Robin suddenly realized that his sleeve was soaking wet. His entire hospital uniform was drenched.
«Wet? He's been in the rain somewhere. But I've seen the morning weather Teports. No rain east of St. Louis. Then he must have jaunted further than that. But he's not supposed to be able. He's supposed to have lost all memory and ability to jaunte. He's malingering.»
Foyle leapt at her. «Shut up, you!» The savagery of his face was terrifying.
«Then you are malingering.»
«How much do you know?»
«That you're a fool. Stop making a scene.
The rush was over in a few moments. «All right, class,» Robin called. «We'll continue. Oh dear, where is Mr. Foyle? He always seems to be missing.»
«With a face like he's got, him, you can't blame him for hiding it, m'am. Up in the cerebral ward we call him Boogey.»
«He does look dreadful, doesn't he, Sgt. Logan. Can't they get those marks off?»
«They're trying, Miss Robin, but they don't know how yet. It's called 'tattooing' and it's sort of forgotten, is all.»
«Then how did Mr. Foyle acquire his face?»
«Nobody knows, Miss Robin. He's up in cerebral because he's lost his mind, him. Can't remember nothing. Me personal, if I had a face like that I wouldn't want to remember nothing too.»
«It's a pity. He looks frightful. Sgt. Logan, d'you suppose I've let a thought about Mr. Foyle slip and hurt his feelings?»
The little man with the platinum skull considered. «No, m'am. You wouldn't hurt nobody's feelings, you. And Foyle ain't got none to hurt, him. He's just a big, dumb ox, is all.»
«I have to be so careful, Sgt. Logan. You see, no one likes to know what another person really thinks about him. We imagine that we do, but we don't. This telesending of mine makes me loathed. And lonesome. I…Please don't listen to me. I'm having trouble controlling my thinking. Ah! There you are, Mr. Foyle. Where in the world have you been wandering?»
Foyle had jaunted in on the stage and stepped off quietly, his hideous face averted. «Been practicing, me,» he mumbled.
Robin repressed the shudder of revulsion in her and went to him sympathetically. She took his ann. «You really should be with us more. We're all friends and having a lovely time. Join in.»
Foyle refused to meet her glance. As he pulled his arm away from her sullenly, Robin suddenly realized that his sleeve was soaking wet. His entire hospital uniform was drenched.
«Wet? He's been in the rain somewhere. But I've seen the morning weather Teports. No rain east of St. Louis. Then he must have jaunted further than that. But he's not supposed to be able. He's supposed to have lost all memory and ability to jaunte. He's malingering.»
Foyle leapt at her. «Shut up, you!» The savagery of his face was terrifying.
«Then you are malingering.»
«How much do you know?»
«That you're a fool. Stop making a scene.