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

Taking a cermet rake from the tool cabinet, he worked over the surface of the soil. His nematodes were
doing their jobs nicely, increasing the water content, breaking down organics and hosting the
nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Once his team got the okay from the colony's environmental committee, they
would start a trial planting using the soil and the greenhouse seedlings on Fowler's east slope.

He had not been working long when he heard the airlock alert. Startled, he dropped the rake and stood
up. Some minutes later a figure emerged from the greenhouse and peered from around the rock crusher.
“Jack?”

“Over here, Carey,” Jack said.

The boy came over. He was taller than his mother, and blond instead of dark. Jack wondered once again
who his father was. Carey was still wearing his pressure suit, helmet off.

“What are you doing here?” Jack asked. “How did you know I was here?”

“I was coming into the north airlock when I saw you cycling out,” Carey said. “By the time I got my suit
on you were gone, but I figured you might be here. I wanted to speak with you about Roz, Jack.”

“What about her?”

“I think she's having a hard time,” Carey said. “I think you might want to pay more attention to what's
going on with her. Fathers like you do that, right?”
“Fathers like what?”

“Come on, Jack, you know—earth fathers.”

“What's wrong with Roz?” Jack asked.

“She seems to have some sexual hang-ups. She hasn't talked with you about it? She talks about you all
the time.”

“I don't think there's anything wrong with Roz. Besides, it's none of your business, Carey.”

“Well, it sort of is. At least if she's not telling you these things, and you care about her, then I guess I need
to tell you. Like after we slept together the first time, she cried.”

“You slept with her.” Jack's own voice sounded leaden in his ears.

“Sure. I thought you knew.” Carey was completely unselfconscious. “I mean, we're all in the same
apartment. She didn't tell you that, either?”

“No.”

“She needs help. She's making some progress with the kids on the hockey team, but for every step
forward she takes one back. I think she's too hung up on you, Jack.”

“Don't call me Jack.”