"Raymond E. Feist - Faerie Tale" - читать интересную книгу автора (Feist Raymond E)

Gabbie's grumbling followed her back into her own
room as Phil flipped off the light Gloria remained, stand-
ing patiently next to Sean's bunk until he fell asleep.

Outside the boys' bedroom window, something dark
and alien slithered down the drainpipe and swung onto
the nearest tree branch. It leaped and spun from branch
to branch as it descended, dropping the last ten feet to
the ground. It moved with an unnaturally quick, rolling
gait, a stooped-over apelike shape. It paused near the ga-
zebo, looking back over its shoulder with opalescent dark
eyes toward the boys' window. Another movement, in
the woods, caused it to duck down, as if fearing discov-
ery. Bright twinkling lights flashed for an instant, darting
between boles, and vanished from view. The dark crea-
ture hesitated, waiting until the lights were gone, then
scampered off toward the woods, making odd whispering
sounds.
6

The house became a home, slowly, with resistance, but
soon the odd corners had been explored and the ancient
odors had become commonplace. The idiosyncrasies of
the houseтАФthe strange little storage area beneath the
stairs next to the cellar door, the odd shed in the back,
the way the pipes upstairs rattledтАФall these things be-
came familiar. Gloria considered her family: Gabbie
wasn't happy but had ceased brooding, and the twins
shared their secret world, seemingly content wherever
their family was. Gloria had been most concerned over
their reaction to the move, but they had shown the least

difficulty in adapting. The most positive aspect of the
move had been in Phil's attitude. He was writing every
day and seemed transported. He refused to show Gloria
any of his work so far, saying he felt superstitious. She
knew that was so much bullshit, for she had talked out
story ideas into the night with him before. She knew he
was simply afraid she wouldn't like what he was writing
and the bubble would burst. All in good time, she
thought, all in good time.

Seventeen days after Jack Cole's visit, a note was de-
livered by the mailman. It was addressed to "Philip Has-
tings and Family." Gloria opened it while Phil scanned a
letter from his literary agent. ". . . look forward to pre-
senting your newest work. Several publishers already
have expressed interest. ..." Phil read aloud.

"Read this," Gloria instructed as she handed him the