"Jane S. Fancher - Moonlover and the Fountain of Blood" - читать интересную книгу автора (Fancher Jane S)

my legs up, rested my arm in my lap, and waited for the skin to heal. The Fountain's blood-touched
water evaporated quickly in the dry summer air, leaving the job undone. I dipped a single fingertip into
the pool and dabbed the red spot, keeping it moist, using only enough or the lifeblood to heal the wound.
For the rest, dinner, a good night's sleep-alone, I remember thinking, though reluctantly-and breakfast
and I'd be ready to feed the Fountain again. In the meantime, I drifted in the sunlight, gathering its
warmth.
"Well, that was rather foolish, now, wasn't it?"
"Hello, Mother," I said, without opening my eyes. She was the only one I allowed here. Of course, since
it was her garden before it was mine, I couldn't very well keep her out.
"Child, you must stop this. You spread yourself too thin, the garden is too greedy."
"My garden isn't greedy. It takes only what it needs."
"And the blooms grow fat as you grow thin. Greedy, I say, as these leeches you bring into my house are
greedy."
Mother never thought much of my choice of lovers. "They aren't leeches."
"They want only the things you give them, the beautiful home, the good food and fine clothes-"
"The hot baths." I laughed aloud. "But, Mother, I don't care. In return, they give me what I want."
"Cheap, uncomplicated sex?"
I lifted my head defiantly.
"Child, you grow tiresome-and old. You must give me an heir, before the garden and the leeches eat you
alive."
"I'll have no woman beneath my roof."
"Your problem isn't with women, it's with yourself."
I said nothing.
"There are other ways," she persisted.
"Not for me. Go find yourself an heir the way you found me."
"I didn't find you, I simply lost you for a time. You were conceived in this house, in love, but her parents
came and took you away before you were born. When the women of the village expelled you, the earth
led me to you, and I brought you home."
That was news. I remembered my mother and the village, but nothing of my father. "Was my father
owner of this house?"
She shrugged. As usual, Mother's moments of enlightenment were as short-lived as her arguments were
persistent.
"The point is, my lazy darling, the heir to this house and this Fountain must be born of love, and love is
receiving as well as giving. You give too much ... to the Fountain, to your leeches. You must learn to
accept in return."
"I'm doing fine, thank you."
"Rabbit piss. You're killing yourself, inside and out. Your body rejuvenates your blood, but what
rejuvenates your spirit?"
"Love."
"You don't know the meaning of the word. Won't so long as you surround yourself with these
sycophants."
"Speak from experience, do you, Mother?"
"Yes."

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I hadn't been expecting so plain an answer, wasn't accustomed to the cold, determined expression on her
face.