"China Mieville - The Scar" - читать интересную книгу автора (Mieville China)

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 The Scar

I sat on the pebbles and threw stones into the water. I read some of the long, bad novel I found on board.
I watched the ship. It is moored close to the prisons, so that our captain can easily entertain and converse
with the lieutenant-gaolers. I watched the prison-ships themselves. There was no movement from their
decks, from behind their portholes. There is never any movement.

I swear, I do not know if I can do this. I miss you, and New Crobuzon.

I remember my journey.

It is hard to believe that it is only ten miles from the city to the godsforsaken sea.

There was a knocking at the door of the tiny cabin. BellisтАЩ lips pursed, and she waved her sheaf of paper
to dry it. Unhurriedly she folded it and replaced it in the chest containing her belongings. She drew her
knees up a little higher and played with her pen, watching as the door opened.

A nun stood in the threshold, her arms braced at either side of the doorway.

тАЬMiss Coldwine,тАЭ she said uncertainly. тАЬMay I come in?тАЭ

тАЬItтАЩs your cabin too, Sister,тАЭ said Bellis quietly. Her pen spun over and around her thumb. It was a
neurotic little trick she had perfected at university.

Sister Meriope shuffled forward a little and sat on the solitary chair. She smoothed her dark russet habit
around her, fiddled with her wimple.

тАЬIt has been some days now since we became cabin-mates, Miss Coldwine,тАЭ Sister Meriope began, тАЬand
I do not feel . . . as if I yet know you at all. And this is not a situation I would wish to continue. As we
are to be traveling and living together for many weeks . . . some companionship, some closeness, could
only make those days easier . . .тАЭ Her voice failed, and she knotted her hands.

Bellis watched her, unmoving. Despite herself, she felt a trickle of contemptuous pity. She could
imagine herself as Sister Meriope must see her: Angular, harsh, and bone-thin. Pale. Lips and hair
stained the cold purple of bruises. Tall and unforgiving.

You donтАЩt feel as if you know me, Sister,she thought,because I havenтАЩt spoken twenty words to you in a
week, and I donтАЩt look at you unless you speak to me, and then I stare you down. She sighed. Meriope
was crippled by her calling. Bellis could imagine her writing in her journal тАЬMiss Coldwine is quiet, yet
I know that I shall come to love her like a sister.тАЭI am not,thought Bellis,getting involved with you. I will
notbecome your sounding board. I will not redeem you of whatever tawdry tragedy brings you here.

Bellis eyed Sister Meriope and did not speak.


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 The Scar