"Justine Larbalestier - Strange Horizons - The Cruel Brother" - читать интересную книгу автора (Larbalestier Justine)

a farm with ten head of cattle and goats and geese and wheat and apples and
much much more besides, as he told Greta at length, listing and listing, till he got
down to the very lint in the house and dirt in his fields. Greta wasn't listening,
though she nodded her head and smiled shyly as though she was thrilled at
every word. She was thinking, He's brother to Beth, and his father's farm
nearby. Hans and me, we can see each other when we will.


Greta bade William seek her family's consent. "My father and mother both, and,"
she felt her heart shift a little as she said it, "my brother as well." She did not
look up at William.
"The littlies too?" he asked, chucking her under the chin as though she was as
young as they. "And the oldest not yet ten years?"


"Seth is almost twelve now, and Mary is not far behind him, kind sir," said Greta,
sinking to the ground as though she was a lady's maid. "You need not ask their
leave, but you must not forget to ask my brother Hans, for he is of a heavy
mood."


Greta went to Hans ahead of William. He was out in the far field. Hans smiled
when he saw his sister coming toward him. There were butterflies about, and the
sun was warm with the smell of flowers in the air, but he did not reach for his
beloved sister, nor kiss her mouth, and his smile stayed there but shortly. There
were plenty of folk about -- Hans knew enough to be cautious -- and besides,
she had been cold with him of late.


"I kept to my task like I said but there's been almost nothing of you," said he,
keeping his voice low.


"You're a married man now, my brother," said Greta, trying to keep a lightness
to her words. The smile she fought to put there faded.


"As you bade me, I did." Hans laid his tools down carefully and crossed his arms.
"For that I am a married man."


"Not a task, not a chore, to be done lightly to win my kisses." Hans did not look
away. "You were married because it was best and right and what a man like you
should do."


"She has not your mouth or eyes or--"


"Hush, now. There's nothing to be said of that. I'm here with news of my own."