第23部分(第4/8 頁)

te；　and　for　the　first　time　the　blueness　of　his　didn't　freeze　up　my

brain。　“I　heard　you　laugh。　He　made　a　joke　about　me

being　a　retard；　and　you　laughed。”

“Juli；　you　don't　understand。　I　wanted　to　punch　him！　Really；　I　did！　But　we　were　in　the　library…。”

“So　instead　you　laughed。”

He　shrugged　and　looked　miserable　and　sheepish。　“Yeah。”

I　left　him。　Just　walked　into　the　living　room　and　left　him。　If　he　was　making　it　up；　he　was　quite

an　actor。　If　he　was　telling　the　truth；　then　Chet　was　right

—he　was　a　coward。　Either　way；　I　didn't　want　to　be　anywhere　near　him。

I　stood　beside　my　father　and　tried　to　follow　his　discussion　with　Chet　about　something　they'd

both　read　in　the　paper。　My　father　was　saying；　“But

what　he's　proposing　otion　machine；　so　it's　not　possible。”

Chet　replied；　“Maybe　in　the　context　of　what　scientists　know　now；　but　do　you　rule　it　out

pletely？”

At　that　moment　I　was　feeling　absolutely　no　scientific　curiosity。　But　in　a　desperate　attempt　to

block　Bryce　Loski　from　my　mind；　I　asked；　“What's　a

perpetual…motion　machine？”

My　father　and　Chet　glanced　at　each　other；　chuckled；　then　shrugged；　giving　me　the　sense

that　they'd　just　agreed　to　let　me　into　a　secret　club。　My

father　explained；　“It's　a　machine　that　runs　without　any　external　power　source。”

“No　electricity；　no　fuel；　no　water　propulsion；　nothing。”　Chet　glanced　over　my　shoulder　and

asked　rathe