"anthony,_piers_&_farmer,_philip_jose_-_the_caterpillars_question" - читать интересную книгу автора (Farmer Phillip Jose)

Finally, as evening came to the highway, he felt a soft touch on his
arm. He looked, and found her slumped like a straw doll, sleeping.

This was the supreme compliment. Tappy would not speak, but she now
trusted him enough to sleep.

Jack realized then, coincidentally, why she had reacted when he talked
to her initially. It had been the first time he had spoken to her
without an imperative. He had started to describe the scenery they were
passing. Perhaps it had been a long time since anyone had talked to her
about anything that might interest her, however slightly.

He drove more carefully then, winding around the curves as the mountain
ridge loomed high ahead, marking the physique of the state of Vermont.
Just before the road seemed fated to plunge suicidally into the sheer
wall of mountain, it spun aside, and there was a pretty town. He found
a motel and stopped.

She was sleeping as he carried her into the unit and placed her on the
bed. He took off her shoes, having a little trouble with the brace; the
metal passed all the way under the foot and was awkward to get around.
Tappy's feet and legs were well formed.

however, and though she was light, her skeletal structure was good. She
would have a handsome figure when she filled out, if only something
could be done about her injuries, both physical and emotional.

Jack left her and turned out the light as he closed the door.

Sleep was more important than food at the moment. He hoped she would
lie undisturbed until morning.

She did and she didn't. In the night he woke, hearing a voice.

Someone was in Tappy's room. He went there, but there was no one. Tappy
was lying on the bed-and talking. The words were slurred, almost
indistinguishable.

He paused, realizing that she was not awake. She was talking in her
sleep! That was the one time her emotional barrier was down, and her
voice was freed.

Then out of that seeming gibberish, some words appeared.

He listened, fascinated. "Empire of the stars," she said, if he
understood correctly. Then: "Reality is a dream."

But after that she turned over, and there were no more words.