Aldiss, Brian W. (ed) - Galactic Empires, Volume I, II / Олдисс, Брайан (ред) - Галактические империи, том I, II [1976, EPUB, ENG]

Galactic Empires 1 1976, epub, ISBN: 0-86007-908-2 Galactic Empires 2 1976, epub, ISBN: 0-86007-909-0

 

There was a whirring noise and a flurry and part of the snow-bank shot up at a 45-degree angle—or so it seemed—and vanished in the soft grey sky. Orel stopped and put out his arm, blocking his uncle’s way. ‘It’s a bird… only a bird… get on, now, Orel,’ Councillor Garth said, testily. He gave his nephew a light shove. They turn white in the winter-time. Or their feathers do. Anyway, that’s what Trapper says.’ They plodded ahead, Orel, partly distracted by the pleasure of seeing his breath, laughed a bit. ‘A bird outside of a cage…’ The councillor let him get a few feet ahead, then he awkwardly compressed a handful of snow and tossed it at his nephew’s face when he turned it back. The first startled cry gave way to laughter. And so they came to the trapper’s door. . . .