"Follett, James - Earthsearch 00 - Mindwarp" - читать интересную книгу автора (Follett James)

selection day -- the anguish of her parents when the news had
been broken to them. She watched the husband help his wife to
her feet. They left the hall through the revolving doors. The
reverberations of the woman's misery gradually died away.
The technician moved towards Kally, his medallion burning
fire on his chest when it caught the lights. Kally
unconsciously tightened her grip on Tarlan. Normally he would
have been loud in his complaints, but he remained silent.
A technician was coming! He was going to speak to her! It
could mean only one thing!
`Kally Solant, mother of Ewen?'
He was a stocky man. Despite her dread, Kally couldn't
help noticing that his work suit was not a good fit and
needed cleaning. He ignored the tantalising flames that
twisted across her breasts when she moved. She heard herself
say, `Yes?'
`I'm Technician-Father Gilith. I interviewed Ewen.'
Kally's stomach turned to water. So they had found out. It
was stupid of her to pretend that it could be hidden from
them. They would lock Ewen away.
`A most remarkable boy, Kally. You should be very proud.'
For the first time she looked directly into the
technician's eyes. Instead of the expected coldness, she saw
a friendliness that left her even more confused and
frightened.
`I don't understand...' she blurted.
`Ewen is going to be a technician. A very special
technician. He has been called to worship the Guardian of
Destiny and will be trained in the GoD sciences at the
Guardian of Destiny Training Centre.'
`When he's nine?'
`Now.'
Kally's thoughts were a sick whirl. She suddenly realised
why the other mother had burst into tears. `You... You mean,
I can't take him home with me? My angel told me that training
starts at nine!'
`That is so, Kally, but Ewen is special. Very special. We
want to start training him immediately. We know how you feel.
But you must be brave and proud.'
I'm not going to cry... I'm not going to cry...
She heard herself saying calmly: `But there's a mistake.
Like there was with me. I was selected then deselected. About
an hour later, I think.'
`Deselection is almost unheard of, Kally.'
The quiet resolve was drowned by the swirling torment of
misery that engulfed her; silent tears coursed down her
cheeks.
`You will be able to visit him, of course,' said Father
Gilith blandly. `Your guardian angel will have all the
details.' He smiled down at Tarlan who had been awed into