A Replant Day Carol

Начало книги

The lorry-load of monsters shocked Andrea Forman out of her memories. Jonathan, in the back seat, shouted excitedly. “Reptants! Look at ’em all!”

“Settle down, Jon. You’ll wake your sister.”

“OK. But when is Replant Day, Mom? Can I kill one this year?”

“We’ll see, honey. Listen to your music. It’s going to be a long drive.”

Following her son’s eyes, Andrea saw hundreds of writhing, demonic reptilian/arachnoid nightmares, each in its own small cage, cages stacked layer on layer, row on row On Earth, such a cargo might sport a contrail of feathers, or pine needles. Here—nothing. Just baleful looks from each pair of evil eyes.

Eyes that still seemed to her more innocent than they should. Andrea’s thoughts drifted back to her first year on Phoenix. A lifetime ago, it felt.

She smiled as she remembered her first impressions of Bill. Just another horny backwoodsman, she’d thought. But he’d been so sincere and dedicated, so eager to meet an Earther. She ’d grown weary of die attentions of the many strong, silent pioneer types who daily invaded her loneliness. Bill was different with his confident, unrushed approach to life, the light in his eyes, and the smile always ready to dawn on his strong, solid face. He had deeply felt commitments to cultural and social precepts Andrea only vaguely understood. A fifth-generation Phoenixian, there was an incredible depth to his convictions. She had found it compelling.

Читать дальше →