"Gordon Eklund - Serving in Time" - читать интересную книгу автора (Eklund Gordon)

places back then, and the world itself more savage and varied, so
that running away made at least a sort of sense, because it would
be different. Yet, even after numerous discussions with Uncle
Phineas, some sections of the book still escaped him entirely.

For example, the part he was reading now, which dealt with
Huck's visit to the Grangerford family and their feud with the
Shepardsons. In one respect, this section of the book seemed
most familiar to him, for the Grangerford family was not a great
deal unlike the Jarman Homestead, although Uncle Phineas had
pointed out that the hundred slaves owned by Colonel
Grangerford should not be considered an actual part of the
family unit. But the feud itself was utterly beyond him. People
with guns (he had never even seen such a thing) who went
around killing others for reasons even the author could not make
clear.

It depressed him,- too. It made him recall how, when he was
young, he had thrown a rock at a sparrow for no good reason
except sheer boredom and somehow the sparrow had failed to
spring to flight and been struck by the rock and killed.

He remembered how Uncle Phineas had made him stand
watch over the dead bird for two full days and nights as the rot
of the earth crept over that poor stiff carcass.

Only then had he been permitted to bury the bird.

What was worse than that was his own guilt and remorse. It
did not begin to ebb until Uncle Phineas confessed, as a boy,
committing the same act and receiving the same punishment.
"After that," said Phineas, "I ceased throwing rocks and you have
not seen one in my hand to this day."

"Or me, either," said Jan.

And that was true, as well.

But killing people? Of all the savage acts described in antique
books, that seemed to Jan not only the most shocking but also
the most mysterious.

What possible reason could anyone ever have for doing such a
monstrous thing as that?

A shadow fell across the pages of Jan's book. A low voice said,
"Working hard, Jan?"

He glanced sheepishly past his shoulder and tried to smile.
Looming over him was a huge, dark giant of a man, with a fierce