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

"And what would that be?" asked Hans, his face grave and stern, and his heart
shrinking a little with prickles of foreknowledge. His words were slow and taut.


"My own time at the kirk come Sunday."


Hans stayed still and silent.


"Me and William Colven to be joined alongside the others. He'll be about to ask
your leave."
"My leave?"


"Of course. I'll not marry without my brother's leave."


"You'll not marry. . ."


"Don't repeat what I say. Hans, please don't. It's done and can't be undone and
I'll love you all my life and hope to see you all my days but no more of this
other."


His gaze broke and he looked down at his tools, not caring what he saw as long
as it was not his sister's face.


"Hans," said Greta. "Look up."


Hans did not.


"Hans, please. Listen. This is her, don't you see? Her curse on us for escaping.
Everything that should be sweet is rotten. She, her, without her. . ." She trailed
off and still Hans would not look at her. "We must stop. Or otherwise she will
stop us."


Hans watched as she walked away across the field, humming one of their
mother's sad foreign songs. "She's burned," he said. "Dead and gone." He
waited for William Colven to come ask his leave. It was a long wait with no
reward.