"Kristine Kathryn Rusch - Chimera" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rusch Kristine Kathryn)

"I enjoyed your work. I saw you dance here before you left for New York."

The bright glare of the spotlight; the way it warmed her, made her feel
beautiful and powerful. She would forget she was on stage, tilting her head
back, letting her arms flow.…

Gen winced. It was an involuntary reaction that she could no more prevent than
the tears that lined her eyes. She made herself smile, though, and say, "Thank
you."

"You were the most beautiful thing," the woman said, apparently oblivious to
the distress her words caused. "I never believed humans could fly until I saw
you."

"I don't fly any longer," Gen said.

The woman nodded. "Dance is such a cruel discipline, even with the modern
enhancements. No matter how our technologies improve, our bodies still have
limits."
"I never believed that," Gen said.

The woman looked at her measuringly. Gen swallowed. The tears threatened to
spill. She shook her head slightly as if the movement could force the tears
back into her tear ducts. Then she clutched her hands together, feeling the
thin, fragile bones. "I'm sorry. I think Dr. Prichard was wrong. I'm not ready
for this."

"You don't know until you try." The woman came closer. She smelled faintly of
cinnamon and apples. She took Gen's twisting hands into her own. They were big
and warm and soothing. "I'm Anna Capstik. Welcome to my home."

Gen closed her eyes. How long had it been since anyone had touched her? Since
the accident, she'd turned away from hugs, stepped back from a friendly arm
around her shoulder, and pretended not to notice an outstretched hand. But she
didn't pull away from Anna.

Gen made her eyes open and nodded once. "Thank you," she said again.

"Come into the kitchen," Anna said. "Most of the animals will come out then."

"You don't have them somewhere else?"

Anna laughed. "You sound as if I can control them. They're as unruly as
children." She squeezed Gen's hands and let go. "I do have some in isolation.
They're so traumatized when they come here. The ones who have the run of the
house are the ones that I'll adopt out."

Gen took a deep breath. "I'm still not sure—"

"Dr. Prichard is, though," Anna said. "Trust her. She makes wise decisions."