"Aldiss, Brian W - Short Stories" - читать интересную книгу автора (Aldiss Brian W)

so much"You've helped me a lot. I couldn't have got
through these months without you. Now we'd better go."
She heard herself chopping her words, fearing Westermark
would talk across them, as he did: "Thank you for your help.
If you find anything . . ."
Stackpole walked modestly over to Janet as the administra-
tor rose and said. "Well, don't either of you forget us if you're
in any kind of trouble."
"I'm sure we won't."
"And, Jack, we'd like you to come back here to visit us
once a month for a personal check-up. Don't want to waste
all our expensive equipment, you know, and you are our star
er, patient." He smiled rather tightly as he said it, glancing
at the paper on his desk to check Westermark's answer.
Westermark's back was already turned on him, Westermark
was already walking slowly to the door, Westermark had said
his good-byes, perched out on the lonely eminence of his
existence.
Janet looked helplessly, before she could guard against it, at
the administrator and Stackpole. She hated it that they were
too professional to take note of what seemed her husband's
breach of conduct. Stackpole looked kindly in a monkey way
and took her arm with one of his thick hands.
"Shall we be off then? My car's waiting outside."

Not saying anything, nodding, thinking, and consulting
watches
She nodded, not saying anything, thinking only, without the
need of the administrator's notes to think it, "Oh yes, this was
when he said, 'Do you mind if I say good-bye to Nurse'
who's-it?Simpson?" She was learning to follow her hus-
band's footprints across the broken path of conversation. He
was now out in the corridor, the door swinging to behind him,
and to empty air the administrator was saying, "It's her day
off today."
"You're good on your cues," she said, feeling the hand
tighten on her arm. She politely brushed his fingers away,
horrid Stackpole, trying to recall what had gone only four
minutes before. Jack had said something to her; she couldn't
remember, didn't speak, avoided eyes, put out her hand and
shook the administrator's firmly.
"Thanks," she said.
"Au revoir to both of you," he replied firmly, glancing
swiftly: watch, notes, her, the door. "Of course," he said. "If
we find anything at all. We are very hopeful. . . ."
He adjusted his tie, looking at the watch again.
"Your husband has gone now, Mrs. Westermark," he said,
his manner softening. He walked towards the door with her
and added, "You have been wonderfully brave, and I do
realisewe all realisethat you will have to go on being