"The Giver Quartet" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lowry, Lois)

тАЬI always participated, of course, because as children we must experience all of those things. And I studied hard in school, as you do, Jonas. But again and again, during free time, I found myself drawn to the newchildren. I spent al-most all of my volunteer hours helping in the Nurturing Center. Of course the Elders knew that, from their observation.тАЭ



Jonas nodded. During the past year he had been aware of the increasing level of observation. In school, at recreation time, and during volunteer hours, he had noticed the Elders watching him and the other Elevens. He had seen them taking notes. He knew, too, that the Elders were meeting for long hours with all of the instructors that he and the other Elevens had had during their years of school.

тАЬSo I expected it, and I was pleased, but not at all surprised, when my Assignment was announced as Nurturer,тАЭ Father explained.



тАЬDid everyone applaud, even though they werenтАЩt surprised?тАЭ Jonas asked.



тАЬOh, of course. They were happy for me, that my Assignment was what I wanted most. I felt very fortunate.тАЭ His father smiled.



тАЬWere any of the Elevens disappointed, your year?тАЭ Jonas asked. Unlike his father, he had no idea what his Assignment would be. But he knew that some would disappoint him. Though he respected his fatherтАЩs work, Nurturer would not be his wish. And he didnтАЩt envy Laborers at all.



His father thought. тАЬNo, I donтАЩt think so. Of course the Elders are so careful in their observations and selections.тАЭ



тАЬI think itтАЩs probably the most important job in our community,тАЭ his mother commented.



тАЬMy friend Yoshiko was surprised by her selection as Doctor,тАЭ Father said, тАЬbut she was thrilled. And letтАЩs see, there was Andrei тАФ I remember that when we were boys he never wanted to do physical things. He spent all the recreation time he could with his construction set, and his volunteer hours were always on building sites. The Elders knew that, of course. Andrei was given the Assignment of Engineer and he was delighted.тАЭ



тАЬAndrei later designed the bridge that crosses the river to the west of town,тАЭ JonasтАЩs mother said. тАЬIt wasnтАЩt there when we were children.тАЭ



тАЬThere are very rarely disappointments, Jonas. I donтАЩt think you need to worry about that,тАЭ his father reassured him. тАЬAnd if there are, you know thereтАЩs an appeal process.тАЭ But they all laughed at that тАФ an appeal went to a committee for study.



тАЬI worry a little about AsherтАЩs Assignment,тАЭ Jonas confessed. тАЬAsherтАЩs such fun. But he doesnтАЩt really have any serious interests. He makes a game out of everything.тАЭ



His father chuckled. тАЬYou know,тАЭ he said, тАЬI re-member when Asher was a newchild at the Nurturing Center, before he was named. He never cried. He giggled and laughed at everything. All of us on the staff enjoyed nurturing Asher.тАЭ