"Mercedes Lackey - Brightly Burning" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lackey Mercedes)

Healer. When Lan was settled into bed, she faced the Healer with a tight-lipped expression, waiting for
an explanation. The Healer was not at all cowed by her, which Lan thought was incredibly brave of him.
тАЬMadam, your son is not seriously ill,тАЭ he began, тАЬalthough I can tell you that what he suffers
from is not in the least feigned. And although his pain is in his head, so to speak, it is not in his mind.тАЭ
IтАЩd better . . . try to stay awake for this, Lan thought. Neither the Healer nor his mother paid
any attention to him, but that was hardly an unusual occurrence. They conducted their conversation over
his head, as he fought the medicine to try and listen.
But struggle as he might, his eyelids closed on their own, and all he managed was to hear a few
words of the HealerтАЩs explanation.
тАЬ. . . often come on in adolescence . . . not common, no, but not abnormal . . . girls more often
than boys . . . stress, upset. . . .тАЭ
It was on that last word that the medicine overcame LanтАЩs determination to stay awake, and he
lost his hold on consciousness.
He slept, woke in darkness to gulp down more medicine to kill the pain, and slept again. He
woke again and repeated the dose, as much to avoid having to talk with anyone as to numb his head. If
he was asleep, no one would bother him, and right now, he didnтАЩt want to have to explain himself.
But by the next evening, the time for the inevitable interview with his mother arrived.
He woke clearheaded, though apprehensive, for at some point during his slumbers, he had
managed to form a decision. TyronтАЩs suggestion-practically a demand-that he steal the velvet had been
the final pebble that starts an avalanche. He had to at least try to reveal what the Sixth Formers were
doing to the rest of the school, himself included.
After the scullery maid took his supper tray away, he heard his motherтАЩs footsteps on the stairs,
and braced himself. Nelda entered the room and took her seat on a chair that had been placed beside his
bed and folded her hands in her lap, looking at him gravely. The candles arranged around the room gave
a soft and wavering light that was very flattering to her, making her seem not much older than her son.
тАЬWell,тАЭ she said, after a lengthy pause. тАЬThe Healer tells us that this illness of yours is something
he calls тАШdazzle-headaches.тАЩ He has a medicine that will help prevent them, although he tells me it canтАЩt
be counted on to work all the time.тАЭ
тАЬDazzle-headaches?тАЭ Lan replied. It seemed an innocuous name for something that hurt so much.
тАЬBut why did I get them in the first place?тАЭ
His mother frowned. тАЬHe says that it is probably stress, or emotional strain that brought them on,
though what you have to be stressed about, merely going to school, I canтАЩt imagine. . . .тАЭ
тАЬI could stay home and study!тАЭ Lan exclaimed hopefully, taking advantage of her momentary
pause. тАЬThe teachers said I did so well that I was ahead of the-тАЭ
тАЬOut of the question,тАЭ Nelda said sharply, interrupting him with a frown. тАЬThat might work for a
few daysтАЩ absence, but under no circumstances will that do as a permanent solution. YouтАЩre going to
have to decide not to allow your emotions to get away from you, thatтАЩs all.тАЭ
ThatтАЩs all? Is she insane? How does she think IтАЩm supposed to do that? In mounting anxiety
and desperation now, unthinking, he shook his head violently and blurted out the story of his ongoing
persecution, ending with TyronтАЩs demand for the velvet. It didnтАЩt matter that this situation was humiliating;
it didnтАЩt matter that he looked a fool. All that mattered was that she see that he couldnтАЩt go back to that
school-not unless he had the open protection of the adults, so overt that even Tyron would not dare
harass him anymore.
His mother listened, openly growing more skeptical with every word, right up until the point
where Lan related TyronтАЩs demands. At that point, she threw up her hands in disgust.
тАЬLavan Chitward, I cannot make up my mind if you are a coward, stupid, or a liar!тАЭ she said, her
tone dripping with contempt.
тАЬIтАЩm telling you the truth!тАЭ Lan groaned. тАЬWhy wonтАЩt you believe me? Why would I make any
of this up? Send to ask any of the others, theyтАЩll tell you!тАЭ
But would they? Would they dare risk the anger of the Sixth Formers if the tattled?