"Carol Emshwiller - At Sixes and Sevens" - читать интересную книгу автора (Emshwiller Carol)

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Next day I get up at a reasonable time and make DanielтАЩs breakfast. I
decide not to go over to IrisтАЩs for a while. SheтАЩs getting better and I left
extra cheese and bread last time. Besides, sheтАЩs got her strawberry patch.
And she probably could get some of her wormy apples, too, without much
trouble.

How do you kill a clever cat? IтАЩve already done all the spells and
dancing I can think of. I need a rest and a chance to think up more things to
do. WhatтАЩs a pentacle?

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Next time I do go over there, sheтАЩs lying on the couch again and the
cat is sitting on the back of it right over her as if on guard. (Look how he
looks at me. Those funny slits of catтАЩs eyes. As bad as a goatтАЩs.)

Somebody has left her fresh water and I see the remains of food I
didnтАЩt bring. ThereтАЩs even apricots from my tree. I was right all along,
somebody besides me is helping her. Or some kind of witching is going on.
How else could she have gotten five of my apricots?

But sheтАЩs been crying. At first I think I should have come over before,
but my not coming isnтАЩt the problem.

тАЬHowie is ... like you said ... off somewhere. I havenтАЩt seen him for
days. HeтАЩs so old. I was wondering if you could look for him. See if anything
happened to him.тАЭ

тАЬMe!тАЭ

IтАЩm so startled it comes out in a squeak.

тАЬIf you wouldnтАЩt mind. YouтАЩve done so much already I hate to ask. And
he is old. He could have just crawled off to be by himself to die.тАЭ

I will. No harm in a little walk around. I might learn more about her and
her place.

тАЬYes! Yes, I will,тАЭ I say.

I run around to the front of the house. ThatтАЩs the part I never can see
from my window.

What a mess. The front porch is obviously never used. ThereтАЩs the
old swing. I donтАЩt dare sit on it. Its rusty chains would probably pop right out
of the ceiling. ThereтАЩs a wasp nest up there, too. Of course what use has
Iris for a porch like this, anyway? Nobody will ever sit here.