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

тАЬWhat did the disciplinary committee decide to do about him?тАЭ

тАЬHeтАЩs on probation. HeтАЩs been warned.тАЭ The Conductor shrugged. тАЬI
couldnтАЩt prove anything, you see; it was just a matter of a few notes. They really
couldnтАЩt do anything except cite him for faulty technique.тАЭ The Conductor sounded
unconcerned; Strad thought committee hearings were probably all in a dayтАЩs 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 soundтАжAnd 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 mustnтАЩt move,
Strad thought, if I can just not move, it wonтАЩt know IтАЩm 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.

тАЬHow soon can you find someone else?тАЭ GuarneriusтАЩs 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.

тАЬI have no grounds to replace him,тАЭ the Conductor said.

G shrugged. тАЬContract privilege. If Strad and I find him unacceptable, youтАЩre
obligated to provide a substitute.тАЭ

тАЬThere isnтАЩt going to be anyone as goodтАжтАЬ

тАЬThere isnтАЩt going to be any substitute,тАЭ Strad interrupted.
 тАЬWhat are you talking about?тАЭ Guarnerius looked sharply into her eyes, but
she knew the Conductor was looking at her shaking hands.

тАЬHe was warned, G, not expelled.тАЭ

тАЬHe was improvising.тАЭ

тАЬThe Conservatory apparently doesnтАЩt have reason to think so. Besides,
whatтАЩs the point of upsetting everyone again? WeтАЩve already missed a dayтАЩs
rehearsal, and your Strauss is difficult enough without having the orchestra tense and
angry and playing badly.тАЭ

Guarnerius frowned. Strad turned back to the Conductor, who was managing
to look attentive and unobtrusive all at once. Strad could feel her hands still
trembling slightly. She folded them carefully in front of her, knowing the Conductor
saw.

тАЬPerhaps youтАЩll be kind enough to gather the players?тАЭ