"Brooks, Terry - Knight of the Word 02 - A Knight of the Word 1.0" - читать интересную книгу автора (Brooks Terry)

He stared at her for a moment without replying, then shook
his head. `It isn't the same'
He was lying to himself, and he didn't even realize it. She saw
it clearly, a truth so obvious that she was appalled. Why was he
refusing to listen to her? She remembered him as being so clear
headed, so focused on the reality of the world's harsh demands and
unexpected treacheries. What had happened to him?
`Did you know there's a demon in Pioneer Square?' she asked
quietly.
That got his attention. She watched his reaction with satisfaction, a quick shifting of the pale green eyes, a hint of shock and disbelief on the angular face. `It was hunting homeless people last night in the catacombs of the old city. I was out walking with Ariel, after midnight, because I couldn't sleep. We could hear its victims screaming:
`You didn't see it?'
She shook her head. Ariel could smell it. She wouldn't let me go after it. She was terrified'
He glanced down at his food. `Maybe she was mistaken'
Nest gave him a moment to consider what he had said, then replied, `Maybe she wasn't'
She could tell what he was thinking. He was wondering what a demon would be doing so close to home. He was wondering why he hadn't known, then deciding it was because he had given up his position as a Knight of the Word, then realizing how vulnerable that made him. She let him work it through, saying nothing.
`If there is a demon, it has nothing to do with me,' he said after a moment, sounding like a man trying hard to convince himself.
She finished her iced tea and looked over at him. `You don't believe that for a moment: She paused. `You wouldn't care to tell me about your dream, would you?'
He shook his head.
She smiled. `Okay, John. I did my good deed. I came here to warn you, and I've warned you. The rest is up to you. I'm here until tomorrow. We can talk about this some more, if you'd like. Just give me a call. I'm staying at the Alexis'
She rose. It was better to leave things where they were, not to say anything more, to let him think about it. He stared at her, perplexed by her abruptness. She reached for her purse. `Can I help pay for the lunch?'
He shook his head quickly. `Wait, I'll walk back with you:
'I'm not going back,' she said. `f m staying down on the waterfront for a while, have a look around:
They stared at each other, neither saying anything. She could see the indecision mirrored in his green eyes. `You believe what she's saying about me, don't you?' he asked finally. `What the Lady's saying?'
`I don't know that I do,' she answered him. `I don't know what I believe. It's difficult to decide. But I think you have to look carefully at the possibility that she might be telling you the truth. I think you have to protect yourself.'
He reached for his staff and levered himself to his feet. The waitress saw them rise, and she came over to give them the check. Ross took it, thanking her. When she was gone, he held out his hand to Nest.
`I'm glad you came, Nest. Whether or not it turns out there was a good reason for it, I'm glad you came. I've wondered about you often'
She nodded, brushing back her curly hair. `I've wondered about you, too.'
`I didn't like leaving things with you in Hopewell the way I did. I've always felt bad about that'
She smiled. `It's over with, John.'
'Sometimes it doesn't feel as if any of it will ever be over, as if the past will ever really be the past' He stepped around the table and bent to kiss her cheek. `I'll think about what you've told me, I promise. I'll think about it carefully. And I'll talk with you before you leave'
`All right' she said, content to leave it at that.
They left together, walking out into the brilliant afternoon sunshine and coolish fall air, and he left her standing on the sidewalk in front of the harbour tours ticket booth, then limped across the street for the trolley. He looked older to her then, as if he had aged all at once, his movements more studied, his stoop more pronounced. She wished she could do more to help him with this, but she had done everything she could think to do.
Even so, she could nor shake tie feeling that it wasn't enough.

CHAPTER 13

Nest was debating what to do with the rest of her day when Ariel unexpectedly reappeared. The tatterdemalion was gossamer thin and spectral in the sunlight, and she floated dose against Nest, as if human contact had become suddenly necessary. Nest glanced around quickly to see if passersby were looking, but no one was. It was clear they couldn't see Ariel. Only Nest could.
`Where have you-'she beganД but the tatterdemalion cut her short with a sudden rush of movement.
`Did you say everything to John Ross that you came to say?' the forest creature hissed in her soft, childlike voice.
Nest stared in surprise. `Yes, I guess so, pretty much:
Ariel was hunched close against her, and Nest could feel her small, transparent body vibrating as if it were a cord pulled taut in a high wind.
`Then stay away from him.' The tatterdemalion's dark eyes were wide and staring as she watched John Ross depart. `Stay faraway. Nest followed Ariel's gaze amass the roadway to where Ross was boarding the trolley. `What do you mean, stay away?'
The tatterdemalion darted behind her as the trolley moved down the tracks, and Nest realised that she was trying to conceal herself. Lest didn't think Ariel was even conscious of the movement, that she was reacting to something instinctually. The vibrating had increased, turned to a violent trembling, and Ariel was pressed so closely against her that parts of them were beginning to blend together. Nest shuddered at the feeling of invasion, intimated by a wave of dark emotions and terrifying memories. She realized that she was reliving with Ariel snippets of the lives of the children the magic had assimilated to create the tatterdemalion, caught in their overpowering flow. She tried to dose her mind against them, to seal herself away, but Ariel's closeness made it impossible. Nest recoiled with the impact of their assault and stepped back in revulsion. She tried to move away from Ariel, to free herself of the other's- presence, and she nearly collided with an elderly couple passing behind her.
`Sorry, I'm sorry; she said hastily; then turned away and walked to the railing overlooking the slips where the tour boats docked. She took several deep gulps of air, staring down at the choppy waters, waiting for her mind to clear, for the dizziness to pass.
Ariel reappeared at her side, but did not try to touch her. `I didn't mean to do that' she said.
Nest nodded - 'I know. But it was, so . .'
'Sometimes, I forget myself. Sometimes, all the children inside me come together in a knot and claim me. They want to be alive again. They want to be who they were. Their memories are so strong that they overwlhm me. I can feel everything they feel. I can remember everything they knew. They fight to get out of me, to become free. They need to touch another human being. They want to be inside a human body, to feel it warm and alive around them, to be real children again.'
Her small voice faded away in a whisper, and her dark eyes seemed to lace their focus. 'It scares me when that happens. I think that if they succeed. there will be nothing left of me'
Nest swallowed the dryness in her throat, 'It's all right, I wasn't hurt. And you're still here'.
She forced herself to look into the tatterdemalions opaque eyes. 'Tell me, Ariel. What is it that bothers you about John Ross? Wily did you tell me to stay away from hint?'