"Jack Williamson - Hole In The World" - читать интересную книгу автора (Williamson Jack)

A philosophic theory? Philosophic hogwash! The blustery wind was real, and its
diesel taint. No doubt about the snarling traffic and a howling ambulance. The
steering wheel was real, solid to his hands. The whole world a sham, set up by a
trickster God to test his soul? He didn't believe in God. He didn't believe he
had a soul. He'd never believed in anything except himself.

The spot had swelled and darkened, now a murky brown. The traffic lights were
hard to see, but he learned to make them out by looking slightly aside. He was
in the terminal when Zara's plane came in. People had no faces, but he caught
her tight black jeans and the purple lei around her neck.

"Sorry, Jake." Her voice had an impatient edge, and she slipped away before he
could kiss her. "You can talk to Ed."

Creighton was just behind her, about to walk around him.

"Ed?" He caught Creighton's sleeve. "Wait a minute."

"Harley?" Creighton blinked at him in sleepy surprise. "If you're here about
that franchise, better find another fish to fry."

"But I thought -- " The spot hid Creighton's eyes, but he saw the sunburn and
the pink paper lei. "I don't understand."

"You can blame your ex-wife's attorney." Creighton moved to follow Zara. "He
called last month, trying to locate you. He convinced us that you're not the man
we wanted."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Your new ex-wife." Creighton looked after Zara, who was walking on, the tight
black jeans twitching seductively. "She wanted time to make up her mind. We've
had a wonderful week together, and I helped her make it up." He caught a hint of
Creighton's grin. "No problem there."

His car was hard to find. Bigger and blacker than ever, the spot made it harder
still to drive. He rear-ended a bright red Taurus stopped at a light, and sat
with the driver cursing him for a stone-blind idiot till the cops came. He
couldn't see much of them, but they gave him a ticket and called a wrecker and
stopped a taxi to take him home.

The driver helped with the key. He stumbled inside and blinked to find himself.
Amy's photo was gone when he squinted for it, and most of the refrigerator. He
had to feel his way to the stairs. The railing slid out of his hand before he

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