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J.G. Ballard the Complete Short Stories - Site de Thomas - Free

J.G. Ballard the Complete Short Stories - Site de Thomas - Free

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Tony Miles had heard Sophie Tucker singing <strong>the</strong><br />

'St Louis Blues', and Harry, <strong>the</strong> el<strong>de</strong>r Bach conducting<br />

<strong>the</strong> B Minor Mass.<br />

They came round to <strong>the</strong> shop and argued over <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

respective performances while I wrestled with <strong>the</strong><br />

flowers.<br />

'Amazing,' Tony exclaimed. 'How does she do it?<br />

Tell me.'<br />

'The Hei<strong>de</strong>lberg score,' Harry ecstased. 'Sublime,<br />

absolute.' He looked irritably at <strong>the</strong> flowers. 'Can't<br />

you keep <strong>the</strong>se things quiet? They're making one hell<br />

of a row.'<br />

They were, and I had a shrewd i<strong>de</strong>a why. The<br />

Arachnid was completely out of control, and by <strong>the</strong><br />

time I'd clamped it down in a weak saline it had<br />

blown out over three hundred dollars' worth of<br />

shrubs.<br />

'The performance at <strong>the</strong> Casino last night was<br />

nothing on <strong>the</strong> one she gave here yesterday,' I told<br />

<strong>the</strong>m. 'The Ring of <strong>the</strong> Niebelungs played by Stan<br />

Kenton. That Arachnid went insane. I'm sure it<br />

wanted to kill her.' Harry watched <strong>the</strong> plant<br />

convulsing its leaves in rigid spasmic movements.<br />

'If you ask me it's in an advanced state of rut. Why<br />

should it want to kill her?'<br />

'Her voice must have overtones that irritate its<br />

calyx. None of <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r plants min<strong>de</strong>d. They cooed<br />

like turtle doves when she touched <strong>the</strong>m.' Tony<br />

shivered happily.<br />

Light dazzled in <strong>the</strong> street outsi<strong>de</strong>.

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