Гарднер Дозуа: Лучшая зарубежная научная фантастика: Сумерки богов

Я раскланиваюсь в первых отблесках утренней зари, наслаждаясь аплодисментами моей публики. И мои кошки, приберегите свои самые горячие восторги для Матсьи, Курмы, Нарасимхи, Варахи, Ваманы, Парашурамы, Рамы, Кришны, Будды и Катки, выступавших для вашего удовольствия. А я? Импресарио, инспектор манежа: рассказчик. Солнце уже взошло, и я не буду вас больше задерживать, потому что вас ждут дела, а мне надо идти, и я думаю, вы теперь понимаете – куда и что я должен там сделать. Возможно, я не добьюсь успеха.

Возможно, даже погибну. Не представляю, чтобы Шив сдался без боя. Поэтому прошу вас, не сделаете ли вы для меня одну вещь? Мои кошки. Вы присмотрите за ними ради меня? Вам не нужно их кормить, нет, ничего такого, просто возьмите их. Выпустите их, они сами могут о себе позаботиться. Я подобрал их точно в таких же местах. На ферме, в деревне они будут счастливы. Вволю охоты и убийств. Быть может, вы даже сумеете заработать на них немножко. Я имею в виду, выступать с ними, о таком никто и слыхом не слыхивал. Это на самом деле намного легче, чем вы думаете. Все дело в мясе, каждый раз. Ну вот, я выдал секрет. Не обижайте их. Ну, я пошел.

Я сталкиваю лодку на воду, вхожу в сверкающую в рассветных лучах воду и запрыгиваю внутрь. Лодка тихонько покачивается. Сегодня великолепное утро; йотирлингам впереди не выдерживает никакого сравнения с солнцем. Я прикладываю пальцы ко лбу, к тилаку, оставленному Лакшми, приветствуя солнце. Потом я сажусь за узкие весла лицом к корме и направляю лодку на стремнину.

«Utriusque Cosmi,» by Robert Charles Wilson. Copyright © 2009 by Robert Charles Wilson. First published in The New Space Opera 2 (Eos), edited by Jonathan Strahan and Gardner Dozois. Reprinted by permission of the author.

«A Story, With Beans,» by Steven Gould. Copyright © 2009 by Dell Magazines. First published in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact, May 2009. Reprinted by permission of the author.

«Under the Shouting Sky,» by Karl Bunker. Copyright © 2009 by Karl Bunker. First published in Cosmos , August/September 2009. Reprinted by permission of the author.

«Events Preceding the Helvetican Revolution,» by John Kessel. Copyright © 2009 by John Kessel. First published in The New Space Opera 2 (Eos), edited by Jonathan Strahan and Gardner Dozois. Reprinted by permission of the author.

«Useless Things,» by Maureen F. McHugh. Copyright © 2009 by Maureen F. McHugh. First published in Eclipse Three (Night Shade), edited by Jonathan Strahan. Reprinted by permission of the author.

«Black Swan,» by Bruce Sterling. Copyright © 2009 by Interzone. First published in Interzone 221. Reprinted by permission of the author.

«Crimes and Glory,» by Paul McAuley. Copyright © 2009 by Paul McAuley. First published electronically on Subterranean, Spring 2009. Reprinted by permission of the author.

«Seventh Fall,» by Alexander Irvine. Copyright © 2009 by Alexander Irvine. First published electronically on Subterranean, Summer 2009.

«Butterfly Bomb,» by Dominic Green. Copyright © 2009 by Interzone. First published in Interzone 223. Reprinted by permission of the author.

«Infinites,» by Vandana Singh. First published in The Woman Who Thought She Was a Planet (Penguin India), by Vandana Singh. Reprinted by permission of the author.

«Things Undone,» by John Barnes. Copyright © 2009 by John Barnes. First published electronically on Jim Baen’s Universe, December 2009. Reprinted by permission of the author.

«On the Human Plan,» by Jay Lake. Copyright © 2009 by Jay Lake. First published electronically on Lone Star Stories, February 1. Reprinted by permission of the author.

«The Island,» by Peter Watts. Copyright © 2009 by Peter Watts. First published in The New Space Opera 2 (Eos), edited by Jonathan Strahan and Gardner Dozois. Reprinted by permission of the author.

«The Integrity of the Chain,» by Lavie Tidhar. Copyright © 2009 by Lavie Tidhar. First published electronically on Fantasy, July. Reprinted by permission of the author.

«Lion Walk,» by Mary Rosenblum. Copyright © 2009 by Dell Magazines. First published in Asimov’s Science Fiction, January 2009. Reprinted by permission of the author.

«Escape to Other Worlds with Science Fiction,» by Jo Walton. Copyright © 2009 by Jo Walton. First published electronically at Tor.com. Reprinted by permission of the author.

«Three Leaves of Aloe,» by Rand B. Lee. Copyright © 2009 by Spilogale, Inc. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction , August/September 2009. Reprinted by permission of the author.

«Mongoose,» by Elizabeth Bear and Sarah Monette. Copyright © 2009 by Elizabeth Bear and Sarah Monette. First published in Lovecraft Unbound (Dark Horse Comics), edited by Ellen Datlow. Reprinted by permission of the authors.

«Paradiso Lost,» by Albert F. Cowdrey. Copyright © 2009 by Spilogale, Inc, First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, June/July 2009. Reprinted by permission of the author.

«It Takes Two,» by Nicola Griffith. Copyright © 2009 by Nicola Griffith. First published in Eclipse Three (Night Shade), edited by Jonathan Strahan. Reprinted by permission of the author.

«Blocked,» by Geoff Ryman. Copyright © 2009 by Spilogale, Inc, First published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, October/November 2009. Reprinted by permission of the author.

«Solace,» by James Van Pelt. Copyright © 2009 by Dell Magazines. First published in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact, June 2009. Reprinted by permission of the author.

«Act One,» by Nancy Kress. Copyright © 2009 by Dell Magazines. First published in Asimov’s Science Fiction, March 2009. Reprinted by permission of the author.

«Twilight of the Gods,» by John C. Wright. Copyright © 2009 by John C. Wright. First published in Federations (Prime), edited by John Joseph Adams. Reprinted by permission of the author.

«Blood Dauber,» by Ted Kosmatka and Michael Poore. Copyright © 2009 by Dell Magazines. First published in Asimov’s Science Fiction, October/November 2009. Reprinted by permission of the authors.

«This Wind Blowing, and This Tide,» by Damien Broderick. Copyright © 2009 by Dell Magazines. First published in Asimov’s Science Fiction, April/May 2009. Reprinted by permission of the author.

«Hair,» by Adam Roberts. Copyright © 2009 by Adam Roberts. First published in When It Changed (Comma Press), edited by Geoff Ryman. Reprinted by permission of the author.