"Eskridge-Strings" - читать интересную книгу автора (Eskridge Kelly)

"Is that him?"

"Yes, Guarnerius."

"What did the disciplinary committee decide to do about him?"

"He's on probation. He's been warned." The Conductor shrugged. "I couldn't prove
anything, you see; it was just a matter of a few notes. They really couldn't do
anything except cite him for faulty technique." The Conductor sounded
unconcerned; Strad thought committee hearings were probably all in a day's work
for her. No wonder the orchestra was tense. No wonder their Piano was playing
forbidden notes. She could imagine herself in his place, young and impatient,
aching to prove she was better than the music she was given to play, knowing
that one note added here or there would support the piece and give it more
resonance, wanting to hear how it might sound. . . . And then she did hear.

It started slow and soft, the music in her head. It swirled through her skull
like a thread of heavy cream in hot coffee. It seeped down her spine. I mustn't
move, Strad thought, if I can just not move, it won't know I'm here, and it will
go back wherever it came from. The almost-audible music bubbled in her bones. Go
find somebody else to play with! she thought wildly. Then she looked again at
the Piano, and knew it had.

"How soon can you find someone else?" Guarnerius's voice grated against the
music. For a confused moment, she wondered if he were talking about her, and a
huge, voiceless no swelled inside her.

"I have no grounds to replace him," the Conductor said.

G shrugged. "Contract privilege. If Strad and I find him unacceptable, you're
obligated to provide a substitute."

"There isn't going to be anyone as good. . . . "

"There isn't going to be any substitute," Strad interrupted.

"What are you talking about?" Guarnerius looked sharply into her eyes, but she
knew the Conductor was looking at her shaking hands.

"He was warned, G, not expelled."

"He was improvising."

"The Conservatory apparently doesn't have reason to think so. Besides, what's
the point of upsetting everyone again? We've already missed a day's rehearsal,
and your Strauss is difficult enough without having the orchestra tense and
angry and playing badly."

Guarnerius frowned. Strad turned back to the Conductor, who was managing to look