"John Varley - Blue Champagne" - читать интересную книгу автора (Varley John)

"How old are you?" he asked.

"That's a secret. What happened to your nose?"

"I broke it a long time ago. I'll bet you're twelve."

She giggled, then nodded. Eleven, then. And just barely.

"Do you want some candy?" He reached into his pocket and pulled out the pink-and-white-striped
paper bag.

She shook her head solemnly. "My mother says not to take candy from strangers."

"But we're not strangers. I'm Ian, the pusher."

She thought that over. While she hesitated, he reached into the bag and picked out a chocolate thing
so thick and gooey it was almost obscene. He bit into it, forcing himself to chew. He hated sweets.

"Okay," she said, and reached toward the bag. He pulled it away. She looked at him in innocent
surprise.

"I just thought of something," he said. "I don't know your name. So I guess we are strangers."

She caught on to the game when she saw the twinkle in his eye. He'd practiced that. It was a good
twinkle.

"My name is Radiant. Radiant Shiningstar Smith."

"A very fancy name," he said, thinking how names had changed. "For a very pretty girl." He paused,
and cocked his head. "No. I don't think so. You're Radiant... Starr. With two r's.... Captain Radiant
Starr, of the Star Patrol."

She was dubious for a moment. He wondered if he'd judged her wrong. Perhaps she was really Miz
Radiant Fainting heart Belle, or Mrs. Radiant Motherhood. But her fingernails were a bit dirty for
that.

She pointed a finger at him and made a Donald Duck sound as her thumb worked back and forth. He
put his hand to his heart and fell over sideways, and she dissolved in laughter. She was careful,
however, to keep her weapon firmly trained on him.

"And you'd better give me that candy or I'll shoot you again."



The playground was darker now, and not so crowded. She sat beside him on the bench, swinging her
legs. Her bare feet did not quite touch the dirt.

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Blue Champagne