"Fear" - читать интересную книгу автора (McGarry Terry)

were left up there to die by those with the money and the industry to build the
caps. But our people are survivors, Bridget, and I believe they're still there.
I believe they took back the land that was theirs when all the Orangemen hid
under it, and that they--"
"You'd best lower your voice before the whole cap hears and lynches
you after all." Father's voice had preceded him through the heavy cloth over the
alcove door. Bridget had glanced at her mother's tight face and scurried past
him to the outer chamber, where David and Anne were breathing softly in their
dreams. The thirdsleep tape of a thunderstorm had looped just audibly between
their cots. Bridget had crawled in next to Anne and thought how learning that
water didn't always come from synthtanks but fell from above in little drops
that made the sound on the tape was not quite the same as learning that Mother
and Father hated each other. But she had learned them at the same time, and they
were both just things to know. It was all right. She knew about leprechauns,
too.
Bridget remembered how long the next six wakes had seemed to stretch
before her. And now, miraculously, here they were....
Then she saw the leprechaun. At first she thought it was one of the
other children who had wandered off, but it was an odd shape and didn't walk
properly. It seemed to sense her stare and, with a wild look, disappeared.
Mam had gone off to talk to Mrs. Simmons; Bridget made sure she wasn't
paying attention and began to run toward the trees. She had never run on ground
before; it was harder than the treadmill, and her short legs carried her as
haltingly as her tongue pronounced the old words. By the time she reached the
trees there was no sign of the small creature. Her heart fell, but she
remembered that they were shy and decided to sit on a stone and wait. She was
far enough into the woods to feel concealed from Mam and the rest, though it was
hard to know what could be seen from far away. It was chilly here, but in a new
way; she realized that the air was blowing against her with water in it, not
quite rain but a fine dampness, and she raised her face and closed her eyes and
smiled into the breeze.
She sensed its presence almost before she heard the crackle of its
steps, and opened her eyes slowly, holding her breath against her beating heart.
It was dirty, and no taller than she was, and she knew at once that it was a
leprechaun, because they were the worst-looking fairies.
"Fear," the creature said.
The sound startled Bridget, so little had she expected him to speak.
She frowned. "No, I'm not afraid."
He shook his head at her, so vehemently that his matted hair swung
back and forth. "Neel, iss fear may."
Bridget, no more confused by this than she often was by Mrs. Simmons,
memorized the sounds and then tried to fit them to English. "Are you afraid?
Don't be afraid--" She reached out to him and he nodded vigorously.
"Fear, fear," he said, pointing to himself and smiling. He certainly
looked unafraid, although is awful teeth succeeded in scaring Bridget. Then he
pointed to her. "Colleen."
"My name is Bridget," she said. He didn't seem to understand, so she
pointed to herself and repeated her name until his rheumy eyes widened and he
grinned.
"Bridget!" he said, delighted. Then, pointing once more to himself, he