"W. Michael Gear - Forbidden Borders 1 - Requiem for The Conqueror" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gear W Michael)

Sinklar stopped before the desk, barely curbing the urge to spring from foot
to foot with anticipation. He looked scrawny, and a thatch of unruly black
hair crowned his long face. Given a few more years, he'd become a handsome
young man, but, for the time being, the gangliness of the ate teen years
dominated his frame. The most peculiar of
his many peculiar traits were his eyes: one gray, the other yellow.
The Head Regent looked up from the monitor he studied and smiled warmly.
"Sinklar. Good to see you, son."
"Yes, sir. I understand the scores are in for the Interplanetary exams, sir."
The Head Regent's smile weakened and he ran a freckled hand over the dome of
his bald head. "They are, Sinklar." He paused, mystification creasing the
wrinkles of his face. "But I don't understand what's happened."
Sinklar stepped forward, leaning on the forbidden territory of the Head
Regent's desk. "How did I place? By the Blessed Gods, sir, tell me!"
The Head Regent pulled a flimsy from the top of a stack and stared at the
printing with a scowl. "Third in the empire, Sinklar." He handed the sheet
across. "But, SinklarтАФ"
"Third" Sinklar let out a whoop, leaping with joy as he studied the blocky
letters on the printout. "I've done it!"
"Sinklar?"
"Third! I told you Head Regent! It felt right when I took the exam. I just
knew IтАФ"
"Sinklar!"
He turned, the flush of excitement fit to burst his skinny breast. "Sir?"
The Head Regent sighed and leaned back in his chair, a sadness in his eyes.
"They turned down your application to the university."
Sinklar took a step forward. "They . . . what?"
The Head Regent shook his head. "I don't know why. I got the exam results this
morning and called immediately. Nothing like this has ever happened before. I
don't . . . wel, I'm sure it's a mistake."
Sinklar gaped, ebullience fading. "Turned down?" He shook the flimsy in his
bony fist. "But I'm third. Third in all the empire! How can they?"
"I'm sure it's a mistake. I've got calls inтАФ"
"No." Sinklar looked down at the crumpled sheet in his hand. "It's my
background again, isn't it?"
"Sinklar, you can'tтАФ"
"Yes, sir. I can." He glanced up, the heat of anger rising. "It's like always,
isn't it? The enrollment will consist of the
silver-spooned children of the nobility. The few positions remaining will go
to wealthy merchants and the governors."
"Sinklar, I'm sure it's a mistake. That's all."
"Mistake? Sir, there's no room among the elite for a ward of the state. It's
because of my parents again, because of what they did. Why do I have to pay
for what they did? I never knew them! I only know where they're buriedтАФand
what the court records state. We Regans document everything, but I'm a random
factor, a freak in the system." Sinklar dropped his head, pulling the flimsy
through his numb fingers. "I understand too well Head Regent. We wouldn't want
the fair-haired sons and daughters of Lord Ministers and governors in the
university rubbing elbows with the likes of me, would we?"
"Sinklar, please." The Head Regent fumbled nervously with his hands. "I'm sure