"Patricia A. McKillip - Naming Day" - читать интересную книгу автора (McKillip Patricia A)

well-chosen words, complimented them on their imaginative interpretation
of ancient history.

After school, she and Griffith, Nicholaus, Tamara, and Deirdre went to
GriffithтАЩs house to study. The place was huge, quiet, and tidy, full of
leather-bound books and potted plants everywhere. Griffith had no
sib-lings; his parents were both scholars and understood the importance of
study. His mother left them alone in the dining room with a tray of iced
herbal tea and brownies; they piled their books on the broad mahogany
table and got to work.

Later, when they had finished homework and quizzed each other for
tests, talk drifted to the all-important Naming Day.

тАЬI canтАЩt decide.тАЭ Averil sighed, sliding limply forward in her chair and
enjoying the reflection of her long ivory hair on the dark, polished wood.
тАЬHas anyone chosen a name, yet?тАЭ

Tamara had, and Nicholaus. Deirdre had narrowed it down to two, and
Griffith said he had had a secret name since he was seven. So they could
all give their attention to Averil.

тАЬI thought something to do with air?тАЭ she began tentatively. тАЬWind?тАЭ
 тАЬWindflower,тАЭ Griffith said promptly, making her blush.

тАЬWindhover,тАЭ Tamara offered. Averil looked blank; she added, тАЬItтАЩs a
falcon.тАЭ

тАЬI donтАЩt think IтАЩm a falcon. More like aтАФwell, something white.тАЭ

тАЬSnow goose?тАЭ Deirdre suggested practically. тАЬNobody would ever
guess that.тАЭ

тАЬSwan, of course,тАЭ Nicholaus said. тАЬBut thatтАЩd be too obvious. How
about egret? Or I think thereтАЩs a snowy owlтАФтАЭ

Averil straightened. тАЬThose arenтАЩt really names, are they? Not
some-thing really personal that defines me.тАЭ

тАЬWhat about a jewel?тАЭ Tamara said. тАЬA diamond?тАЭ

тАЬPearl,тАЭ Griffith said softly, smiling a little, making Averil smile back.

тАЬSomething,тАЭ she agreed, тАЬmore like that.тАЭ

It was all so interesting, trying to find the perfect name for Averil, that
nobody remembered the time. GriffithтАЩs mother reminded them; they broke
up hastily, packing away books and pens, winding long silk scarves around
their throats, prognosticating cold suppers and peeved parents.