"Lumley, Brian - Necroscope - The Lost Years Volume 1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lumley Brian)

the privacy of our own car in a place like this, who is there to eavesdrop?'
Then, as at a signal, Mario had driven on for Palermo ...
And now they were there, at the Cafe Julio, and the fat little sod seating them at a table on his
precious balcony and detailing his odious 'cuisine,' from which list they ordered this and that: a few
items to pick at, a carafe of red wine. All a sham, a show; the brothers moved the food about their
plates, waiting for Sclafani to mention Julietta. And eventually, returning upstairs from some small
duty in the kitchens:
'Gentlemen, I'm eternally in your debt!' Julio bowed and scraped, plucked nervously at the towel
over his arm as he sidled up to their table. 'Er, I mean with regard to your kindness in providing a ...

a companion for my daughter. I cannot bring myself to call the old lady a nurse - can't admit to any
real sickness in my girl - but the woman is a godsend nevertheless. She fetches and carries, sees to
my daughter's needs, and I am left free to attend my business.'
'Julietta?' Francesco contrived to look concerned. 'Your daughter? Is she no better, then? We'd
wondered why she wasn't around ...' He looked down over the balcony into the courtyard, casting
here and there with his dark eyes as if searching.
Julio turned his own eyes to the night sky and flapped his hands in an attitude of despair or
supplication. 'Oh, my lovely girl! Weak as water and pale as a cloud! Julietta will get better, I am
sure. But for now ... she reclines upon her bed, with shadows under her eyes, and complains about
the sunlight creeping in her room so that she must keep the curtains drawn! Some strange lethargy,
a malaise, a weird photophobia.'
The brothers looked at each other - perhaps quizzically - and Francesco finally nodded. And to
Julio: 'Sclafani, we have business tonight. A man of ours returns from an important trip out of the
country.
Brian Lumley
Necroscope: The Lost Years - Vol. I
17
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Meanwhile we're out for a drive, passing a little time. It's a very pleasant evening, after all. Alas,
we may be called away at any moment, which is why we didn't order more extensively from your
menu. But this thing with Julietta: we -find ourselves ... concerned for you.'
'Indeed,' Tony nodded. 'We Francezcis are delicate that way ourselves - with regard to strong
sunlight, I mean. Which is why we're not often out and about when the sun is up.'
'And,' Francesco went on, thoughtfully, '-who can say - perhaps we find ourselves in a position to
be of further service?' Qulio could have fainted! What, the Francezci Brothers, of service to him
and his? Of further service?)
'You see,' said Tony, 'in three days a man will fly from Rome. A doctor, a specialist. You are right:
there is a certain malaise or anaemia abroad. Servants of ours in Le Manse Madonie are laid low by
it; we ourselves feel a definite lethargy. Our blood seems ... weak? But at least in the heights we
have the benefit of clean air! While here in the city ...' He shrugged.
Open-mouthed, Julio looked from one brother to the other. 'But what do you propose? I mean, I
scarcely dare presume-'
'-That our doctor friend should take a look at Julietta, and perhaps keep her under observation a
while?' Francesco cut him short. 'But why not? He's our own private doctor and comes with the
very highest recommendation! Moreover, he's been paid in advance. In such an arrangement, surely
there are no losers! So, it's settled.' He nodded his head as in final confirmation.
'Settled?'
'We shall send our car for Julietta three evenings from now -Saturday, yes. And the old woman
shall stay with her at all times, of course. But that is to look on the gloomy side, for in the event
that she should recover between now and then, which naturally we hope she will...'