"Barbara Karmazin - Blackbird 2 - Out of the Dark" - читать интересную книгу автора (Karmazin Barbara)

A group of adolescents flew three inches above the other side of the sidewalk on their airskates. Pastel
pink and blue dyes colored their spiked hair. Silver and gold rings glittered against their eyebrows and
ears. Their jeans were all glitz and shine. They yelled threats at Mider and Rachel. Knives and chains
appeared in adolescent hands, deadly toys that matched their cruel promises.

Mider stepped back and placed his burden on the sidewalk. If these ruffians tried to harm his
companions, his Sidhe strength should catch them unawares. тАЬRachel. Step aside. Please.тАЭ

But Rachel was looking down the street and waving her arms at a trash truck going the opposite
direction in the farthest lane.

Brakes squealed. The trash truck skidded across two lanes of traffic. Horns blared, more brakes
squealed as the other tractor-trailers fled from this obviously maddened driver.

Air brakes hissed and moaned. The trash truck rolled to a stop and slammed its claw arms on the
sidewalk in front of the skaters. They twisted in midair to avoid the claws, crashed into each other and
screamed more obscenities.

The driver opened the door of the truck and jumped down to the sidewalk. Blue tattoos of dragons and
snakes spiraled around his thick muscled arms. Intricate blue curlicues covered his bald scalp and neck.
The chain swinging from his hands was twice as thick and long as the flimsy ones wielded by his younger
opponents.

Fright flickered across the adolescents' faces. They backed away and airskated in the opposite
direction. The truck driver nodded at Rachel. тАЬKids have no respect nowadays.тАЭ

Rachel grinned. тАЬThanks, Jesse. Can you give a lift to Dr. Nour's clinic?тАЭ

Jesse clipped the chain to his belt. тАЬNo problem. Let me check this bin first.тАЭ He turned around, climbed
to the top of a large green garbage bin and peered inside. тАЬRise and shine, Billy. You know I hate
cleaning blood and guts out of my rig.тАЭ

Mider lifted the Sidhe woman from the sidewalk and cradled her in his arms again. It took only a few
moments to climb into the passenger side after Rachel.

Jesse climbed into the driver's side, drove them six more blocks and left them off at the front door. A
heavy grillwork of iron bars provided extra security for the small storefront tucked beside a modest kiosk
and fast food console.Women's Health Clinic read the neatly stenciled sign on the door. In smaller print
the next line said:Dr. Fatima Nour, M.D .

Rachel led Mider inside. She walked up to the receptionist and whispered. The receptionist nodded and
allowed her to enter the door at the other end of the room.

Mider took the last seat along the wall. Even though he was dressed exactly like them, the other
women's gazes seemed to penetrate the thick folds and veil of his chador. He sensed their recognition of
him as male. A few of the younger ones sat unveiled. Their chadors hung on hooks by the door.

Perhaps it was because he cradled an unconscious woman in his lap. How could they bear the weight of
these heavy robes with only a small slit for their eyes? The building's climate control wasn't much help
either. Dried sweat matted his fur. He felt like ripping the chador off and scratching himself all over.