"Barry N. Malzberg - Le Croix" - читать интересную книгу автора (Malzberg Barry N)

Le Croix
by Barry Malzberg



Copyright ©1980 by Barry N. Malzberg



Depersonalization takes over. As usual, he does not quite feel himself, which
is
for the best; the man that he knows could hardly manage these embarrassing
circumstances. Adaptability, that is the key; swim in the fast waters. There
is
no other way that he, let alone I could get through. “Pardonnez tout ils,” he
says, feeling himself twirling upon the crucifix in the absent Roman breezes,
a
sensation not unlike flight, “mais ils ne comprendre pas que ils fait.”
Oh my, is that awful. He wishes that he could do better than that. Still,
there
is no one around, strictly speaking, to criticize and besides, he is merely
following impulse which is the purpose of the program. Do what you will. “Ah
pere, this is a bitch,” he mutters.
The thief on his left, an utterly untrustworthy type, murmurs foreign curses,
not in French, to the other thief; and the man, losing patience with his
companions who certainly look as culpable as all hell, stares below. Casting
his
glance far down he can see the onlookers, not so many as one would think, far
less than the texts would indicate but certainly enough (fair is fair and
simple
Mark had made an effort to get it right) to cast lots over his vestments.
They
should be starting that stuff just about now.
Ah, well. This too shall pass. He considers the sky, noting with interest
that
the formation of clouds against the dazzling sunlight must yield the aspect
of
stigmata. For everything a natural, logical explanation. It is a rational
world
back here after all. If a little on the monolithic side.
“I wonder how long this is going to go on,” he says to make conversation. “it
does seem to be taking a bloody long time.”
“Long time?” the thief on the left says. “Until we die, that's how long, and
not
an instant sooner. It's easier,” the thief says confidentially, “if you
breathe
in tight little gasps. Less pain. You're kind of grabbing for the air.”
“Am I? Really?”
“Leave him alone,” the other thief says. “Don't talk to him. Why give him
advice?”