"Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. Roadside Picnic (англ.)" - читать интересную книгу автора

"I did."
"What for?"
Redrick did not answer and went over to unlock the garage door. The
super followed.
"I asked you why you set up the swings. Who asked you to?"
"My daughter," he answered very calmly. He rolled back the door.
"I'm not asking you about your daughter!" He raised his voice.
"That's another question. I'm asking you who gave you permission? I
mean who let you take over the park?"
Redrick turned to him and stared at the bridge of his nose, pale and
covered with spidery veins. The super stepped back and spoke more softly.
"And don't you repaint the terrace. How many times have I...."
"Don't bother. I'm not going to move out."
He got back in the car and started the engine. As he took the wheel, he
saw how white his knuckles were. Then he leaned out the window and no longer
controlling himself, said:
"But if I am forced to move, you creep, you'd better say your prayers."
He drove into the garage, turned on the light, and closed the door. He
pulled the swag from the false gas tank, fixed up the car, put the bag in an
old wicker basket, put the fishing gear, still damp and covered with grass
and leaves, on top, and put the fish that Burbridge had bought in a store in
the suburbs last night on top of everything. Then he checked the car one
more time. Out of habit. A flattened cigarette butt had stuck to the right
rear fender. Redrick pulled it away--it was Swedish. He thought about it and
put it into the matchbox. There were three butts in it already.
He didn't meet anyone on the stairs. He stopped in front of his door
and it flew open before he had time to get his keys. He walked in sideways,
holding the heavy basket under his arm, and immersed himself in the warmth
and familiar smells of home. Guta threw her arms around his neck and froze
with her face on his chest. He could feel her heart beating wildly even
through his jumpsuit and heavy shirt. He didn't rush her--he stood patiently
and waited for her to calm down, even though he fully sensed for the First
time just then how tired and worn out he was.
"All right," she finally said in a low husky voice and let go of him.
She turned on the light in the entry and went into the kitchen. "I'll have
the coffee ready in a minute," she called.
"I've brought some fish," he said in an artificially hearty tone. "Fry
it up, won't you, I'm starved."
She came back, hiding her face in her loosened hair; he set the basket
on the floor, helped her take out the net with the fish, and they both
carried the net to the kitchen and dumped the Fish into the sink.
"Go wash up," she said. "By the time you're ready, the fish will be
done.
"How's Monkey?" Redrick asked, pulling off his boots.
"She was babbling all evening," Guta replied. "I barely got her to go
to bed. She keeps asking, where's daddy, where s daddy? She wants her daddy
all the time."
She moved swiftly and quietly in the kitchen, strong and graceful. The
water was boiling in the pan on the stove and the scales were flying under
her knife, and the butter was sizzling in the largest pan, and there was the