"Judith Moffett - The Bird Shaman's Girl" - читать интересную книгу автора (Moffett Judith)

RoLayne Allred, who had come to stand beside her. тАЬCan you take charge
of this? I might get called away before they finish the scene.тАЭ

тАЬFine,тАЭ said LexiтАЩs mother. She half-looked at Pam as she tucked the
blanket under her arm, a look of mingled resentment and shame.

Years of being Liaison Officer for Child Oversight in Utah had
conditioned Pam to ignore such looks. Lowering her voice, keeping it
friendly, she said тАЬHow do you feel sheтАЩs doing?тАЭ

тАЬShe seems to be doing all right.тАЭ

тАЬHave you talked about it with her much?тАЭ

тАЬThat counselor youтАЩre making her see is the one she talks to,тАЭ LexiтАЩs
mother said, and this time the resentment was unmistakable.

Pam counted to ten before replying, with a kindness that was at least
partly genuine, тАЬShe feels bad about getting her granddad in trouble, you
knowтАФshe feels like the abuse was her fault somehow, thatтАЩs very
common. You could help with that, RoLayne. I know it would be a huge
relief to her if you could talk about it with herтАФreassure her that she did the
right thing to turn him in.тАЭ

The director called for action and they watched Lexi struggle up a
different slope (with less trampled snow) at the front of a group of shawled
women, heads bowed against the wind and swirling flakes. The able-bodied
women were helping haul the carts; these, as Pam and RoLayne could see,
in front of them and on the monitor screen, were all too old, young,
pregnant, or enfeebled to do more than totter along behind. Where the
ascent was less steep, some would ride.

It wasnтАЩt a scene where the onlookers had to keep completely quiet,
and LexiтАЩs mother murmured, тАЬWell, I canтАЩt very well say what I donтАЩt
believe.тАЭ

Pam murmured back, тАЬThat she was right to tell? But surelyтАФтАЭ
 тАЬTell you Gaians. I donтАЩt think that was right myself, so you neednтАЩt
expect me to say it was.тАЭ

Pam gritted her teeth. тАЬBut surely itтАЩs less important whether she told
us she was being molested, or told her Canon, or her parents, than that she
told somebody.тАЭ When Mrs. Allred didnтАЩt reply, Pam gestured up the slope
and led her companion farther from the microphones. In a normal voice she
said, тАЬKids often feel guilty at the commotion it causes when they report
abuse. ThatтАЩs why itтАЩs so vital that they be reassured by the people they
love and trust the most. Lexi really needs to hear that itтАЩs not her fault
people are so upset, and she needs to hear it from you.тАЭ

тАЬTell her yourself,тАЭ RoLayne said shortly. тАЬIтАЩve already given her my