"Seond Inquisition by Joanna Russ" - читать интересную книгу автора (Nebula Award Stories 6)

you. We try to explain. Don't we?"

I nodded.

"Good," he said. "Then where did this book come from?"

I muttered something; I don't know what.

"Is my daughter angry?" said my father. "Is my daughter being
rebellious?"

"She told you all about it!" I blurted out. My father's face turned red.

"Don't you dare talk about your mother that way!" he
shouted, standing up. "Don't you dare refer to your mother in that
way!"

"Now, Ben-" said my mother.

"Your mother is the soul of unselfishness," said my father, "and don't
you forget it, missy; your mother has worried about you since the day
you were born and if you don't appreciate that, you can damn well-"

"Ben!" said my mother, shocked.

"I'm sorry," I said, and then I said, "I'm very sorry, Mother." My
father sat down. My father had a mustache and his hair was parted in
the middle and slicked down; now one lock fell over the part in front
and his whole face was gray and quivering. He was staring fixedly at
his coffee cup. My mother came over and poured coffee for him; then
she took the coffeepot into the kitchen and when she came back she
had milk for me. She put the glass of milk on the table near my plate.
Then she sat down again. She smiled tremblingly at my father; then she
put her hand over mine on the table and said:

"Darling, why did you read that book?"

"Well?" said my father from across the table.

There was a moment's silence. Then:

"Good morning!"

and

"Good morning!"

sand

"Good morning!" said our guest cheerfully, crossing the dining room in