"Hamilton, Laurell K - Nightseer" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hamilton Laurell K)

stairway. At the top there was a narrow landing and one door. Harque smiled down
at Keleios, smiled with her vision-befuddled eyes, and the child shrank back.
She dragged Keleios to the door. УDonТt you want to see your mother?Ф
There was an odor now, faint but growing stronger. The stench of sickness and
uncleaned clothes soured with sweat. Keleios tried to pull away, but the grip
was like iron. The door opened so slowly. The smell washed over the child, and
she vomited on the stones. Harque held her forehead, gently, and helped her
stand afterwards.
Keleios balked, not wanting to enter the room. Harque dragged her along the
floor, screaming, dragged her over the doorsill into the stinking room. She was
jerked to her feet and told, УLook.Ф
The room was narrow with only a rickety bed in it. Something was tied to that
bed. It was black, and pus oozed from it. The skin was cracked and bleeding as
if the sickness were too much for the skin to hold. Keleios stared at the thing
for a time, not understanding. Her eyes wouldnТt make sense of it.
The small girl realized a person was tied to the bed. Keleios began to cry.
There was no hint of who it had been, only that it had been a person.
The black face turned toward them and opened its eyesЧbrown eyes, her motherТs
eyes.
Keleios screamed.
HarqueТs voice came. УWhere is the fair Elwine the Gentle? Where is she now?Ф
The nightmare faded to the sounds of her own screams.
She woke, panting and sweat drenched. Magda, her nursemaid, was there, brought
by her screams. УKeleios, child, what is it?Ф
Keleios cried into MagdaТs plump bosom, sobbing, unable to talk. The fear was
still there, horrible and complete. She could not breathe around the terror of
it. She could not think for the sight of her motherТs eyes, her motherТs death.
There was a soft footstep and the rustling of silk in the reeds that covered the
floor. Elwine was there, tall and slender, dressed in white. Keleios fought free
of the nurse and scrambled for her mother.
Elwine held her and stroked her hair until her breathing calmed and her sobs
quieted. УNow, little one, what has happened to upset you so?Ф
Keleios whispered, УI dreamed.Ф
УBut weТve talked before, Keleios; dreams cannot hurt you.Ф
Keleios prided herself on being brave and would not look at her mother, but
stared at the silver thread worked into her motherТs bodice. It formed a silver
line of leaves and common flowers, the sort of things that went into an herb
spell. Mother smelled like peppermint and faded apple blossoms. She had been
working a spell when Keleios screamed.
Elwine forced the child away from her and said, УLook at me, Keleios.Ф
The child did, half-afraid.
УAre you still afraid?Ф
Keleios nodded. УIt isnТt gone, Mother.Ф
УWhat isnТt gone?Ф
УThe dream, the bad dream. ItТs still here,Ф She touched her forehead, УItТs
still here.Ф
Elwine motioned the nurse to leave and crawled up on the bed with Keleios, She
snuggled the child to her and said, УNow tell me about this dream that wonТt
leave.Ф
Keleios told her everything. Her mother listened and nodded and made all the