"The Planners by Kate Wilhelm" - читать интересную книгу автора (1969)

Rae asked mockingly.
He looked at her. "Go to hell," he said.
It was late when he turned off his light. Kelly met him
in the corridor that led to the main entrance. "Hard day,
Dr. Darin?"
He nodded. Her hand lingered momentarily on his arm.
"Good night," she said, turning in to her own office. He
stared at the door for a long time before he let himself out
and started toward his car. Lea would be furious with him
for not calling. Probably she wouldn't speak at all until nearly
bedtime, when she would explode into tears and accusations.
He could see the time when her tears and accusations would
strike home, when Kelly's body would still be a tangible
memory, her words lingering in his ears. And he would lie
to Lea, not because he would care actually if she knew, but
because it would be expected. She wouldn't know how to
cope with the truth. It would entangle her to the point where
she would have to try an abortive suicide, a screaming-for-
attention attempt that would ultimately tie him in tear-soaked
knots that would never be loosened. No, he would lie, and
she would know he was lying, and they would get by. He
started the car, aimed down the long sixteen miles that lay
before him. He wondered where Kelly lived. What it would
do to Stu when he realized. What it would do to his job if
Kelly should get nasty, eventually. He shrugged. Barbie dolls
never got nasty. It wasn't built in.
Lea met him at the door, dressed only in a sheer gown,
her hair loose and unsprayed. Her body flowed into his, so
that he didn't need Kelly at all. And he was best man when
Stu and Kelly were married. He called to Rae, "Would that
satisfy you?" but she didn't answer. Maybe she was gone for
good this time. He parked the car outside his darkened house
and leaned his head on the steering wheel for a moment
before getting out. If not gone for good, at least for a long
time. He hoped she would stay away for a long time.