"Robin Hobb - Tawny Man 2 - Golden Fool" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hobb Robin)

arrives.тАЩ He gathered himself and slowly stood up. тАШTom, this apprenticeship
hasnтАЩt been what I expected at all. I sweep and carry boards and turn wood that
is drying. I sharpen tools and clean tools and oil tools. Then I sweep again. I rub
oil finishes into the completed pieces. But not a tool have I had in my hand to
use, in all these days. ItтАЩs all, тАЬwatch how this is done, boy,тАЭ or тАЬrepeat back what
I just told youтАЭ and тАЬThis isnтАЩt what I asked for. Take this back to the wood stock
and bring me the fine-grained cherry. And be quick about itтАЭ. And, Tom, they call
me names. тАЬCountry boyтАЭ and тАЬdullardтАЭ.тАЩ
тАШGindast calls all his apprentices names, Hap.тАЩ JinnaтАЩs placid voice was both
calming and comforting, but it was srill strange to have a third person include
herself in our conversation, тАШitтАЩs common knowledge. One even took the taunt
with him when he went into business for himself. Now you pay a fine price for a
Simpleton table.тАЩ Jinna had moved back to her chair. She had taken up her
knitting but not resumed her seat. The cat still had ic.
I tried not to show how much HapтАЩs words distressed me. I had expecred to
hear that he loved his position and how grateful he was that I had been able to
get it for him. I had believed that his apprenticeship would be the one thing that
had gone right. тАШWell, I warned you that you would have to work hard,тАЩ I
attempted.
тАШAnd I was ready for that, Tom, truly I was. IтАЩm ready to cut wood and fit it and
shape it all day. But I didnтАЩt expect to be bored to death. Sweeping and rubbing
and fetchingтАж I might as well have stayed at home for all IтАЩm learning here.тАЩ
Few things have such sharp edges as the careless words of a boy. His disdain
for our old life, spoken so plainly, left me speechless.
He lifted his eyes to mine accusingly. тАШAnd where have you been and why
have you been gone so long? DidnтАЩt you know that IтАЩd need you?тАЩ Then he
squinted at me. тАШWhat have you done to your hair?тАЩ
тАШI cut it,тАЩ I said. I ran a self-conscious hand over my mourning-shortened locks.
I suddenly did not trust myself to say more than that. He was just a kid, I knew,
and prone to see all things first in how they affected himself. But the very brevity
of my reply alerted him that there was much I had not said.
His eyes wandered over my face. тАШWhatтАЩs happened?тАЩ he demanded.
I rook a breath. No help for it now. тАШNighteyes is dead,тАЩ I said quietly.
тАШButтАж is it my fault? He ran away from me, Tom, but I did look for him, I swear
I did, Jinna will tell youтАФтАЩ
тАШIt wasnтАЩt your fault. He followed and found me. I was with him when he died. It
was nothing you did, Hap. He was just old. It was his time and he went from me.тАЩ
Despite my efforts, my throat clenched down on the words.
The relief on the boyтАЩs face that he was not at fault was another arrow in rny
heart. Was being blameless more important to him than the wolfтАЩs death? But
when he said, тАШI canтАЩt believe heтАЩs gone,тАЩ I suddenly understood. He spoke the
exact truth. It would take a day, perhaps several, before he realized the old wolf
was never coming back. Nighteyes would never again sprawl beside him on the
hearthstones, never nudge his hand to have his ears scratched, never walk at his
side to hunt rabbits again. Tears rose in my eyes.
тАШYouтАЩll be all right. It will just take time,тАЩ I assured him thickly.
тАШLetтАЩs hope so,тАЩ he responded heavily.
тАШGo to bed. You can still get an hour or so of sleep before you must rise.тАЩ
тАШYes,тАЩ he agreed. тАШI suppose IтАЩd better.тАЩ Then he took a step towards me. тАШTom.
IтАЩm so sorry,тАЩ he said, and his awkward hug took away much of the earlier hurt he