"Holloway, J M M - Emily Sees Red" - читать интересную книгу автора (Holloway J M M)

"Keep track of how many she gets right. I want some documentation we can show to experts."

Her mother headed for the door. "Now be good for Nanny till I get home, Emily."

Emily held out her arms, but the door had already closed. She looked into Nanny's angry face.

"Child, this'll hurt me worse than it'll hurt you, but we got to stop Satan in his tracks." The woman held up the back of a card.

"Now tell Nanny what color you see."

Emily closed her lips tight.

"Come on, child. It's for your own good. Tell Nanny."

Emily blinked and the color came clear. "Black."

"No! It's gray. Only a demon would say black." The flat of Nanny's palm slapped Emily's face. "You got to learn. A good girl only sees what's in front of her eyes."

Nanny raised another card. "What's this one?"

She'd never been hit before. The pain confused her. Which color did Nanny want her to say? Gray on the front? Or red on the back? She couldn't figure out the right answer.

"It's a pretty color. Tell me its name," Nanny coaxed.

"Red?"

The old woman raised her arm to strike again, but quickly lowered it to her chest. Her face lost all color, turning grayer than the cardboard. "Help me,child. I know you can."

Emily shook her head.

Nanny dropped to the floor. "Emily, please," she said, then went silent.

Emily approached her cautiously. The old woman's tongue lolled like the dog's. Her eyes stared. She lay very still. Emily reached out a pudgy hand.

Just in time she remembered. Good girls leave dead things alone.

END