"John Kessel - The Juniper Tree" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kessel John)

“Sorry the coach is on your case so much,” Carey said. He touched her shoulder gently. The Cousins
were always touching each other. With them, the dividing line between touching for sex and touching just
to touch was erased.
God, she wished she could figure out what she wanted. Was he her brother or her boyfriend? It was
hard enough back on earth; among all these cousins it was impossible.

When she didn't answer right away, Carey said, “The invisible girl returns.”

“What?”

“You're disappearing again. The girl from the planet nobody's ever seen.”

Roz watched the girl with the man on the grass. The girl was no older than her. The distance between the
two had disappeared; now the girl was climbing onto the man.

Carey ran his finger down Roz's arm, then gently nudged her over. Roz pushed him away. “No thanks.”

Carey tried to kiss her cheek, and she turned away. “Not now, okay?”

“What's the matter?”

“Does something have to be the matter? Any Cousins girl might tell you no, too. Don't act like it's just
because I'm from earth.”

“It is.”

“Is not.”

“I'm not going to rape you, High-G. Cousins don't rape.”

“What's that supposed to mean?”

“Absolutely nothing. But you know how screwed up it is down on earth.”

“Lots of stuff people do here would be wrong on earth.”

“Right. And people there shoot each other if anyone touches them.”

Cousins could be so arrogant it made her want to spit. “You've never even seen the earth—let alone
been there.”

“I've seen you, Roz.”

“You don't own me.”

He smiled. “No. Your father does.” He nuzzled her neck.

Roz hit him. “Get off me, you pig!” She got up and ran away.
****
Festival