"Baxter, Stephen - Manifold 03 - Origin" - читать интересную книгу автора (Baxter Stephen)

oval, like a schoolroom demonstration of a planetary orbit. There was no sign of
the other planes. Even the T-38 seemed to have vanished completely, save for a
few drifting bits of light wreckage, a glimmer that must have been a shard of a
Plexiglas canopy.

And he saw another 'chute. Half open. Hanging before the closing maw of the
artefact like a speck of food before the mouth of some vast fish.

Emma, of course: she had ejected a half-second before Malenfant, so that she had
found herself that much closer to the artefact than he had been.

And now she was being drawn in by the buffeting air currents.

He screamed, 'Emma!' He twisted and wriggled, but there was nothing he could do.

Her 'chute fell into the portal. There was a flash of electric-blue light. And
she was gone.

'Emma! Emma!'

... Something fell past him, not ten yards away. It was a man: tall and lithe
like a basketball player, stark naked. He was black, and under tight curls, his
skull was as flat as a board. His mouth was working, gasping like a fish's. His
gaze locked with Malenfant's, just for a heartbeat. Malenfant read astonishment
beyond shock.

Then the man was gone, on his way to his own destiny in the ancient lands
beneath.

A new barrage of turbulent air slammed into Malenfant. He rocked viciously.
Nursing his damaged arm he fought the 'chute, fought to keep it stable - fought
for his life, fought for the chance to live through this day, to find Emma.

As he spun, he glimpsed that new Red Moon, a baleful eye gazing down on his tiny
struggles.



Fire:

The Mouth is gone.

The new people are nearby. The smallest is a child. They are all yelling. Their
skin is bright, yellow-brown and blue. They are trying to stand up, but they
stumble backwards.

Fire's legs walk forward. He walks over the soaked fireplace. The ashes are
still hot. He yelps and his feet lift up, off the ashes.

Sing is nearby, on her branches, weeping.