第23部分(第5/8 頁)

r　absently；　“You　think　that's　a　doable　thing？”

What　had　distracted　him？　Was　Bryce　still　in　the　foyer？　Why　didn't　he　just　go　away？

I　forced　myself　to　focus　on　the　conversation。　“Do　I　think　that's　a　doable　thing？　Well；　I　don't

really　know。　All　machines　use　energy；　right？　Even　real

efficient　ones。　And　that　energy　has　to　e　from　somewhere…。”

“What　if　the　machine　generated　it　itself？”　Chet　asked；　but　one　eye　was　still　on　the　foyer。

“How　could　it　do　that？”

Neither　of　them　answered　me。　Instead；　my　father　stuck　out　his　hand　and　said；　“Good　evening；

Rick。　Nice　of　you　to　have　us　over。”

Mr。　Loski　pumped　my　dad's　hand　and　joined　our　group；　making　little　ments　about　the

weather。　When　that　topic　was　all　dried　up；　he　said；

“And　wow；　that　yard　of　yours　has　really　e　along。　I　told　Chet　here　that　we　ought　to　hire

him　out。　He　really　knows　his　pickets；　doesn't　he？”

He　was　joking。　I　think。　But　my　father　didn't　take　it　that　way；　and　neither　did　Chet。　I　was　afraid

of　what　might　happen　next；　but　then　Mrs。　Loski

tinkled　a　little　dinner　bell　and　called；　“Hors　d'oeuvres；　everybody！”

The　hors　d'oeuvres　were　delicious。　But　when　my　father　whispered　that　the　teeny…tiny　black

berries　on　top　of　the　crackers　weren't　berries　at　all；　but

………　Page　71………

caviar；　I　stopped　midbite。　Fish　eggs？　Repulsive！

Then　my　father　pointed　out　that　I　ate　chicken　eggs　all　the　time；　so　ish　over