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his free arm, crawled forward, never taking his eyes off the line where the
many of the tales had it. It lay where it had fallen. Maybe it had fallen
Arthur stretched his arms, straightened his shoulders, grimaced, and
All right, he told himself. Let's look at it this way: let's assume that I
They went around the mound of gray rags. There was nothing left of
over my head. It's never been any other way. Where is all this gunk comingother on the rusty rails. Redrick unbuttoned a flap and took out a package
absolutely useless to rely on himself. And now this hope--no longer a hope,
Arthur shook his head, hurt.
Redrick looked back too. There were many tracks on the gray ashy grass,song. And the repairs would be almost free, because he could apply for
wind carried the smoke from the plant. And his father smelled that way, too,
Noonan's a fool: Redrick, Red, you violate the balance, you destroy the
"Glad to meet you, Mr. Schuhart. How are you? You know, we've met
Yes. Harmless.
believe this thing grants wishes?"
green- backers, Throaties, in your suits and ties, clean and fresh, withfelt a chill: he thought that he had lost his way. But he had not gotten
toad.
all no good! My father ... but he can't take me now!" Redrick forced himselfme, I don't care. You want the money. You get it. You give me as much as you
fear he had crawled in some wild zigzag, like a roach on a hot skillet, and
direction of the bundle of rags on the stony hillside.
sullen face of Monkey, covered with coarse brown fur. He struggled to
his head. He decisively splashed more whiskey into their glasses.
me, and not the first to have shed tears; others even got down on theirArthur's profile, and he saw his terror-stricken eyes bulging out and his
among the rocks and rubble stood a bulldozer, its lowered bucket jammed
that the dry grass was not rustling underfoot but squeaking like cornstarch,
pursed lips, and nodded in the direction of the kitchen. "See that depression between the hills?" he asked.
Arthur had only to stray a single foot from their path for Redrick's mouth
night. He woke up from the same sound, sad and long, his heart stopping,
rocks.
many of the tales had it. It lay where it had fallen. Maybe it had fallen
father and mother, Artie, the handsome son, their pride and joy.
seen one in many years and had almost forgotten what the insignia lookedbed by the window. Guta woke up, too, and took Redrick's hand. He could feel
nothing.
could not understand what it was, but it was bothering him. It was as thoughabout that. If that should happen, I'll drag you back here. I promise. Look,
surfaced and saw Arthur's terrified face right next to his. For a second he
with two orderlies, tough and rough burly guys used to lugging heavy
He looked at Arthur. Arthur was washing up, moaning as he touched the
Since childhood he had relied on nothing but himself. And since childhood
Look at the piece he's carrying in his back pocket. Nah, I doubt it. Buzzardroutines. It was time to go, he thought wildly. The hell with Bur- bridge,
the joints; it seemed to him, through the hot haze that was enveloping his
"That's it," Redrick said and took off his backpack. "Sit down right
appeared; but then a silver cobweb exploded on the sun and Kirill was nohis eyes, probably because he no longer had eyebrows or eyelashes. Arthur
new. My whole life is like this. I'm stuck in filth and there's lightning
bullet. In case of an accident like Father's."
them up on the quiet from army suppliers, and depended on them like on the
the boy stepped over two ties at a time, broad-shouldered, narrow-hipped.
God, what else? What else has to be done to us before we understand? Isn't
seconds later the great hulk of the ore cars loomed ahead of them.yesterday, could ask of the Golden Ball, He enjoyed watching Arthur frown,
on, hunched over, dragging his feet, trying to pick off the baked slime from
wash of color billowed and shone iridescently--the Zone's green dawn.all no good! My father ... but he can't take me now!" Redrick forced himself