"George R. R. Martin - The Sandkings" - читать интересную книгу автора (Martin George R R)

any of them. The mists flowed sensuously around them, displaying a bit of first one thing and then
another, then cloaking all. It was intriguing.

As he watched, the mist began to form letters. One word at a time. Kress stood and read.

WO. AND. SHADE. IMPORTERS. ARTIFACTS. ART. LIFE FORMS. AND. MISC.

The letters stopped. Through the fog Kress saw something moving. That was enough for him, that and
the LIFE FORMS in their advertisement. He swept his walking cloak over his shoulder and entered
the store.

Inside, Kress felt disoriented. The interior seemed vast, much larger than he would have guessed
from the relatively modest frontage. It was dimly lit, peaceful. The ceiling was a stars cape,
complete with spiral nebulas, very dark and realistic, very nice. All the counters shone faintly,
to better display the merchandise within. The aisles were carpeted with ground fog. It came almost



file:///F|/rah/George%20R.%20R.%20Martin/Martin,%20George%20R.%20R.%20-%20Sandkings.txt (1 of 25) [1/17/03 7:16:28 PM]
 file:///F|/rah/George%20R.%20R.%20Martin/Martin,%20George%20R.%20R.%20-%20Sandkings.txt

to his knees in places and swirled about his feet as he walked.

"Can I help you?"
She almost seemed to have risen from the fog. Tall and gaunt and pale, she wore a practical gray
jumpsuit and a strange little cap that rested well back on her head.

"Are you Wo or Shade?" Kress asked. "Or only sales help?"

"Jala Wo, ready to serve you," she replied. "Shade does not see customers. We have no sales help."

"You have quite a large establishment," Kress said. "Odd that I have never heard of you before."

"We have only just opened this shop on Baldur," the woman said. "We have franchises on a number of
other worlds, however. What can I sell you? Art, perhaps? You have the look of a collector. We
have some fine Nor T'alush crystal carvings."

"No," Kress said. "I own all the crystal carvings I desire. I came to see about a pet."

"A life form?"

"Yes."

"Alien?"

"Of course."

"We have a mimic in stock. From Celia's World. A clever little simian. Not only will it learn to
speak, but eventually it will mimic your voice, inflections, gestures, even facial expressions. "