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

worried and not hiding it as well as she wished.

тАЬIтАЩm very sorry,тАЭ the SM began again. тАЬIтАЩm afraid we canтАЩt rehearse the Viotti
this afternoon as planned.тАЭ

Strad rubbed her left hand with her right. She wished for one improbable
moment that the SM would give her an excuse to fly into a rage so that she could
howl out all her fear and tension safely disguised as artistтАЩs pique. But she could not:
all other considerations aside, it reminded her too much of something G might do.

She sighed. тАЬWhat seems to be the problem? My schedule requests were
quite clear.тАЭ

тАЬYes, Stradivarius. But our Piano isnтАЩt here.тАЭ

тАЬThen get someone over to the nearest bar or videohouse or wherever she or
heтАжhe?тАжwherever he is and bring him along.тАЭ

тАЬItтАЩs not like that. HeтАжтАЬThe SM swallowed. тАЬHeтАЩs at a Conservatory
disciplinary hearing. WeтАЩre not sure if heтАЩs coming back or notтАжbut we donтАЩt want
to replace him until weтАЩre sure, because itтАЩs not fair.тАЭ She stopped, gripped the
clipboard tighter against her breasts. тАЬI beg your pardon,тАЭ she said formally. тАЬI did
not intend to question the decisions of the Conservatory. The entire orchestra
apologizes for the inconvenience caused by one of our members.тАЭ

тАЬOh, put a sock in it,тАЭ Strad said, surprising them both. тАЬWhatтАЩs he done.?тАЭ

тАЬHeтАЩs been accused of improvising.тАЭ

He was back the next day. Strad knew it the moment she walked into the hall
for the morning rehearsal. The room seemed brighter, as if there were more light and
air in it than the day before.

She saw him in the midst of a crowd of players, like a young sapling in the
sun. From habit, she noticed his hands first. They were thin and strong-looking, with
long, square-tipped fingers; expressive hands. Good, she thought, and looked next
at his face.

HeтАЩs so young. His eyes and mouth moved with the same emotion as his
hands, but none of the control. Someone touched his shoulder, and as he turned,
laughing, he saw Strad watching him. His eyes widened, the laugh turned into a
beautiful smile; then, quite suddenly, he looked away. It jolted her, as if a string had
broken in mid-note.

She felt movement behind her. Guarnerius appeared at her left shoulder, with
the Conductor in tow.

тАЬIs that him?тАЭ

тАЬYes, Guarnerius.тАЭ