"Ron Goulart - Shandy" - читать интересную книгу автора (Goulart Ron)

With a faint flourish Shandy held out the wild flowers. "For you, Miss Nancy."

"Why, thank you. Shandy."

Holman leaned against the wall under the clock and eyed Shandy. "You back to stay?"

"Well," Shandy said. "I've known Miss Nancy quite a while. And am really quite fond of her. I hate to
see her go." He looked at the flowers Nancy held against her chest. "I have come to ask Miss Nancy to
allow me to court her. With all due respects to Mr. Holman."

"Damn it to hell," Holman said, straightening.

Nancy placed the flowers on the table and smiled at Shandy. He stood as she approached him. Nancy

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 Shandy

laughed and put her arms around the young man.

With her head against Shandy's chest Nancy said, "Poor Shandy. Poor Shandy." She made him sit down
again. Then she patted him fondly on the head. "Stay right there. Shandy." Nancy hurried from the room.

Holman followed her. "Listen, are you sure he isn't intelligent? Because, my God, the scientists down at
the settlement..."

Nancy said, "Oh, no. Ken. He just copies things he's heard people say. Wait a minute." She disappeared
into the storeroom. When she returned she was holding a dusty album in her hand. Holman followed her
back into the kitchen.

Shandy looked at the album for a moment and then smiled. "I meant well," he said.

"I knew I recognized you," Nancy said, turning a third through the book. "My Uncle Maxwell when he
graduated from Mars-Yale." She slid the picture out and held it toward Holman, but he didn't take it.

Shandy said, "Hated to see you go."

Come to think of it, Holman thought, he does Just repeat things people are always saying.

Setting the book beside the flowers. Nancy said, "What are you really. Shandy? I've never had a chance
to talk to you before, except in a one-sided sort of way."

Shandy folded his hands and uncrossed his legs. "I don't remember just now. Miss Nancy. I used to
know. I don't think there are many of us left now." He touched his moustache again, smoothing it.
"Maybe in the mountains there are some more. I don't remember."

Nancy patted his head. "I'm going to marry Ken, Shandy. And live in the settlement."

"You'll enjoy that."