Odnośniki
|
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
attitudes and especially for your unGrouplike destruction of
39
In the Group by Robert Silverberg
Kay's rig. All your Group privileges are canceled. At a signal
from Dirk, Nate removed Murray's rig from its container and
reduced it to unsalvageable rubble. Dirk said, Speaking as your
friend, Murray, I suggest you think seriously about undergoing a
total personality reconstruct. You're in trouble, do you know
that? You need a lot of help. You're a mess.
Is there anything else you want to tell me? Murray asked.
Nothing else. Goodbye, Murray.
They started to go out. Dirk, Finn, Nate, Bruce, Conrad, Klaus.
Van. JoJo. Nikki. Serena, Maria, Lanelle, Mindy. Lois. Kay was
the last to leave. She stood by the door, clutching her clothes in
a small crumpled bundle. She seemed entirely unafraid of him.
There was a peculiar look of was it tenderness? pity? on her
face. Softly she said, I'm sorry it had to come to this, Murray. I
feel so unhappy for you. I know that what you did wasn't a
40
In the Group by Robert Silverberg
hostile act. You did it out of love. You were all wrong, but you
were doing it out of love. She walked toward him and kissed
him lightly, on the cheek, on the tip of the nose, on the lips. He
didn't move. She smiled. She touched his arm. I'm so sorry,
she murmured. Goodbye, Murray. As she went through the
door she looked back and said, Such a damned shame. I could
have loved you, you know? I could really have loved you.
He had told himself that he would wait until they all were gone
before he let the tears flow. But when the door had closed
behind Kay he discovered his eyes remained dry. He had no
tears. He was altogether calm. Numb. Burned out.
* * * *
After a long while he put on fresh clothing and went out. He
popped to London, found that it was raining there, and popped
to Prague, where there was something stifling about the
41
In the Group by Robert Silverberg
atmosphere, and went on to Seoul, where he had barbecued
beef and kimchi for dinner. Then he popped to New York. In
front of a gallery on Lexington Avenue he picked up a
complaisant young girl with long black hair. Let's go to a hotel,
he suggested, and she smiled and nodded. He registered for a
six-hour stay. Upstairs, she undressed without waiting for him to
ask. Her body was smooth and supple, flat belly, pale skin, high
full breasts. They lay down together and, in silence, without
preliminaries, he took her. She was eager and responsive. Kay,
he thought. Kay. Kay. You are Kay. A spasm of culmination
shook him with unexpected force.
Do you mind if I smoke? she said a few minutes later.
I love you, he said.
What?
I love you.
42
In the Group by Robert Silverberg
You're sweet.
Come live with me. Please. Please. I'm serious.
What?
Live with me. Marry me.
What?
There's only one thing I ask. No Group stuff. That's all.
Otherwise you can do as you please. I'm wealthy. I'll make you
happy. I love you.
You don't even know my name.
I love you.
Mister, you must be out of your head.
Please. Please.
A lunatic. Unless you're trying to make fun of me.
I'm perfectly serious, I assure you. Live with me. Be my
wife.
43
In the Group by Robert Silverberg
A lunatic, she said. I'm getting out of here! She leaped up
and looked for her clothes. Jesus, a madman!
No, he said, but she was on her way, not even pausing to
get dressed, running helter-skelter from the room, her pink
buttocks flashing like beacons as she made her escape. The door
slammed. He shook his head. He sat rigid for half an hour, an
hour, some long timeless span, thinking of Kay, thinking of
Group, wondering what they'd be doing tonight, whose turn it
was. At length he rose and put on his clothes and left the hotel.
A terrible restlessness assailed him. He popped to Karachi and
stayed ten minutes. He popped to Vienna. To Hangchow. He
didn't stay. Looking for what? He didn't know. Looking for Kay?
Kay didn't exist. Looking. Just looking. Pop. Pop. Pop.
44
In the Group by Robert Silverberg
If you are connected to the Internet, take a moment to rate this
story by going back to your bookshelf: Click Here
45
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pldoc.pisz.plpdf.pisz.plblacksoulman.xlx.pl
|
