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

Or what would become of him.





9


Now, for the first time in his twelve years of life, Jonas felt separate, different. He remembered what the Chief Elder had said: that his training would be alone and apart.



But his training had not yet begun and already, upon leaving the Auditorium, he felt the apartness. Holding the folder she had given him, he made his way through the throng, looking for his family unit and for Asher. People moved aside for him. They watched him. He thought he could hear whispers.



"Ash!" he called, spotting his friend near the rows of bicycles. "Ride back with me?"



"Sure." Asher smiled, his usual smile, friendly and familiar. But Jonas felt a moment of hesitation from his friend, an uncertainty.



"Congratulations," Asher said.



"You too," Jonas replied. "It was really funny, when she told about the smacks. You got more applause than almost anybody else.''



The other new Twelves clustered nearby, placing their folders carefully into the carrying containers on the backs of the bikes. In each dwelling tonight they would be



studying the instructions for the beginning of their training. Each night for years the children had memorized the required lessons for school, often yawning with boredom. Tonight they would all begin eagerly to memorize the rules for their adult Assignments.



"Congratulations, Asher!'' someone called. Then that hesitation again. ''You too, Jonas!"



Asher and Jonas responded with congratulations to their groupmates. Jonas saw his parents watching him from the place where their own bicycles were waiting. Lily had already been strapped into her seat.



He waved. They waved back, smiling, but he noticed that Lily was watching him solemnly, her thumb in her mouth.