"Niven, Larry - Building Harlequin's Moon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Niven Larry)

"Only because Council would catch Eric if he stayed."
Ursula shrugged.
Rachel led them by the chocolate plates once more, and they giggled as they each palmed an extra piece. "We don't want to stay anyway," Ursula whispered. "The men kiss the women, and Mom said the wine tastes terrible. She didn't even want to go this year, but Dad said she had to."
Rachel thought about Harry, about kissing him, and she smiled. They'd kissed again just this morning, meeting and turning off the path, standing under the First Trees. He'd tasted like salt and tomatoes from his breakfast. But Ursula didn't want to know that, so Rachel just said, "Dad won't go. He hasn't gone since Mom left."
As the girls started threading through tents toward Rachel's, Harry popped up in front of them. "And happy Mid-Winter to you too."
Rachel blushed. Ursula groaned out load.
Harry held out a hand in front of him, palm up. Two chocolate stars sat in his hand.
"No, thanks," Ursula said. "We got our own."
Rachel held her hand out and Harry dropped the treats from his palm to hers. He smiled. "Go on, you won't see any more until next year."
Rachel held one out to Ursula, who grimaced and closed her palm.
Rachel raised an eyebrow at her friend, then said, "Well, Dad will want one." She looked around to thank Harry, but he had already melted into the shadows between the tents.
Ursula tugged at Rachel's arm. "Come on, let's see if your dad's home yet. I saw him eating, but that was a while ago."
And sure enough, he was waiting for them.


A WEEK LATER, Gabriel posted the list of who would go out to plant for the next season. Ursula would stay behind, tending the student plots, and Gregory and Gloria would join Harry, Rachel, Alexandra, and Nick, doubling the number of Moon Born on planting crews.
The night before they left, Ursula and Rachel watched Harlequin's swirling patterns from just outside Aldrin, sitting close together on packed regolith. The hard ground dug into Rachel's backside.
"I don't want to be left behind," Ursula said.
"They never ask, do they?" Rachel swallowed. "It'll be okay. It's an honor to watch the grove. Someone has to be here who cares."
Ursula's face was turned up into Harlequin's soft light, and her eyes were wet. Rachel pulled her friend into her arms, and held Ursula while she cried. She stroked Ursula's soft hair. "I'll call. We won't lose touch."




Chapter 11: Transition


Rachel and Harry led teams separated along gender lines. Ali oversaw Rachel and her team, Gabriel the boys. The two Council members pushed them hard.
Ursula called every morning. She asked for advice about the grove, and Rachel struggled to help her. She told Ursula about the teams, the hard work, and how fast Gloria was learning. Ever since the rescue, Gloria dogged after Rachel like a small bright shadow.
Rachel and Harry spent early evenings far from the group. They walked for hours, holding hands, talking about terraforming and about plants. They wondered about Council, and about John Glenn. Sometimes they kissed, and licking heat ran down Rachel's spine and settled between her thighs. They touched as often as they could, but they didn't undress. The landscape was almost flat, yet Harry often found little hollows where they could feel alone. They talked about a future together. By some unspoken pact, Rachel and Harry stayed separate during the days.
They all went back to Aldrin to pick up supplies and visit families. Rachel spent two days with Ursula. The girls didn't leave each other's sides except to sleep. Rachel listened endlessly to Ursula's troubles working with the students left behind in her care. Once Ursula said that maybe Rachel had it harder, being out there with the boys. Rachel just smiled and said it wasn't so bad.
The secret of her growing relationship with Harry was a weight pulling Rachel from Ursula, and she woke up each night worrying about how to tell her. She had never kept secrets from Ursula.
The third day Rachel and Harry met outside Aldrin, up at the grove. They clasped hands as soon as they reached the privacy of the First Trees. Rachel leaned into Harry, breathing in his soapy clean smell and feeling his chin against the top of her head, his arms around her waist. They lay down and she snuggled into his arms, watching the dim summer stars through the lacework of young lianas threading through the spreading canopy.
Harry leaned over and whispered, "I missed you."
Rachel brought her fingers up to his cheekbones and ran the back of her hand over the contours of his face. A soft stubble of beard made his chin tickle her fingers. He held completely still, one hand cupping her shoulder, and closed his eyes. They kissed, and then she felt his free hand on her belly, rubbing it in small concentric circles. She arched her back, drew in a fearful excited breath, and took his hand and placed it on her breast. He squeezed it gently, exploring, finding the nipple and then pulling up her shirt and taking it in his mouth. She breathed faster and moved closer, matching him skin to skin in as many places as she could. Her hand ran up his spine. She trembled.
Hands and fingers and tongues made tentative explorations. Rachel was unsure about the next step, not pushing, not resisting. The sounds of leaves against branches and the dusky shadows of night were all crystal clear, and she felt a little as if she—no, they—floated above themselves in some place of desire and pleasure she had never known before. She dropped her hand along his inner thigh, and ran it up the curve of his hips.
A dry branch snapped close to them, and she heard a sharp intake of breath and a small cry.
Ursula.
Rachel stiffened and called out. "Ursula?"
The only reply was the sound of footsteps running away.
Rachel pushed herself up on her elbows. "I'm sure it was Ursula. She'll be angry. I have to go find her."
"Stay," he whispered, and Rachel sank back, her mind visualizing Ursula's face, the expression of disgust that she heard but didn't see.
"I... I never told her about us. She won't understand. I didn't know how to tell her. She ... she ..."
"... doesn't like me." He finished her sentence. "I know. I don't mean ... I guess I like her okay, but she needs so much help. Not like you—it's all easy for you. You and me, we love the work. We care about Selene. I think Ursula cares about what you think more than about anything else." His hand covered her navel, moving softly against her stomach.
"She's ... just less secure." Rachel tried to breathe back into being with him. "You don't understand her."
"She slows you down."
"But she's my friend. I... I have to go to her. I'll meet you again tomorrow."
He looked startled, then sad. "Don't go," he said. When she didn't answer, he said, "I understand. Tomorrow, right."
She reached up and kissed him, taking a few moments, touching tongues. "I have to go." She pushed away and stood up, walking unsteadily, the softness of a few moments before turned to confusion.
She flew back alone, the cool night air chilling her. Ursula refused Rachel's calls that night, and Rachel wanted Harry's touch, but couldn't bring herself to go find him after leaving so abruptly.