"13 - Alien Invasion" - читать интересную книгу автора (Pike Christopher)

'Quiet,' Adam whispered back. 'We mustn't judge people by their appearance.'
Sally sat back and muttered under her breath. 'Would you judge a rattle snake by its appearance?'
Mr Snakol cleared his throat, and it sounded as if he had something half eaten stuck in it. He smiled widely before he spoke, and it was as if he had not brushed his teeth that morning, or in the last ten years. Yet even though he smiled, his green eyes remained emotionless. His voice came out with a faint hissing sound.
'Hello,' he said. 'My name is pronounced Mr Snakol. I am your new science teacher, and I hope this year to give you an appreciation of science that will last you a lifetime. This year we will be focusing on the biological sciences, and astronomy. It is my feeling that these two subjects are most important for this planet . . . for you students to learn. While studying biology, we will perform many experiments on small creatures.' He paused and scanned everyone in the room with his weird eyes. 'Does anyone have any qualms about performing dissections?'
Sally immediately raised her hand. 'I do,' she said.
'What is your name please?' Mr Snakol asked.
Sally stood. 'Sarah Wilcox, sir. And I absolutely will not perform any dissections, on living or dead animals. I won't even hurt a frog. I am by nature a highly moralistic person and I feel that animals and frogs have as much right to live as people do. Except for cats, I can't stand cats. You know there was once this cat that tried to steal my body. Ever since then I have harboured deep resentment towards all feline creatures. I hate tigers and lions and panthers as well. Those few animals I wouldn't mind dissecting. Bring them in and I'll cut them up, as long as they're dead and shaven. But otherwise I think it is a sin to harm any of nature's creatures. In fact, if you try to force me to cut open a frog, there is an excellent chance I will throw up my breakfast all over my desk. Don't say you weren't warned.' Sally nodded and sat down. 'Thank you, sir, for letting me speak my mind.'
The rest of the class just stared at Sally.
Mr Snakol lost his smile. He appeared uncertain how to respond.
Adam leaned over and whispered to Sally. 'You certainly made a strong first impression,' he said.
Sally beamed. 'First impressions are what count.'
Cindy muttered. 'I think the rest of the class is looking forward to dissecting you.'
'If they cut open your head they'd just find sawdust,' Sally snapped back.
'Better that than empty space,' Cindy said.
George swallowed again. 'I don't like cutting into things that bleed.'
Sally turned and faced him. 'Then tell Mr Snakol. Tell him now, and be firm.'
George was uncertain. 'Do I have to?'
'If you feel strongly about the issue, maybe you should,' Adam said.
George raised his hand uneasily. 'Sir?' he said.
Mr Snakol looked over. 'Yes? Please stand and identify yourself.'
George got slowly to his feet, and once there he looked like a slight wind would blow him over. 'I am George Sanders, sir. I am new here and I don't like dissections either.'
Now Mr Snakol looked annoyed. 'If you cannot follow the course I have established, then maybe you should not be in this class. Sit down and remain silent.'
'OK,' George mumbled, and hurried back into his chair. But Sally stood up quickly.
'Excuse me Mr Snake,' she said. 'I mean, Mr Snakol. I don't think you have a right to talk to George that way. You asked for our opinions and he was just giving you his. So what if he doesn't agree with you? This is a free country Ч he has the right to speak his mind. Personally I feel you owe him an apology.'
Mr Snakol went to snap at her. Then he caught himself and smiled, showing all of his mossy teeth. 'You are right, Sarah Wilcox. I apologise, George. If you don't want to dissect any frogs, it is all right with me.' He paused. 'But I would like the two of you to stay behind after class.'
'I'm afraid I won't be able to do that,' Sally said quickly.
'Why not?' Mr Snakol asked.
'I have an important appointment,' Sally said.
Mr Snakol frowned. 'What is it?'
'It's personal,' Sally said simply, sitting back down. 'I don't want to discuss it in public.'
Mr Snakol appeared dumbfounded. 'Very well. You stay behind George. I want to speak to you about a private matter.'
Sally sighed and whispered under her breath. 'Poor George.'
George trembled in his seat. 'This guy is scary.'
Adam turned once more and patted his arm. 'Don't worry. He's a school teacher. The school administrations would have made sure of his qualifications before allowing him on this campus. You have nothing to worry about.'
'Unless the administration was in on it,' Sally muttered.
They thought it was just another paranoid Sally remark.
But they thought wrong.


Two

At lunch, three periods later, the whole gang gathered in the centre of the campus. The central courtyard was nicely designed, with many benches and trees, and stone walls to lean against or sit on. Yet there was a tombstone in the middle of it all that ruined the pleasant mood. Adam pointed it out and asked who it belonged to. Watch and Bryce Poole, who had just joined them, knew the whole story. Watch was well-known for his thick glasses and his strange habit of always wearing four watches, each set to a different time zone. Bryce was considered by many Ч himself included Ч to be a superhero.
'It belongs to Ann Templeton's sister,' Watch said. 'She went to school here, but was killed on that exact spot when she was only twelve years old.'
Adam was stunned. 'I never knew she had a sister.'
'Never talk about her sister in front of her,' Bryce warned. 'The last time someone did around the witch Ч that person died the next day.'
'I don't think Ann Templeton would kill anyone just for that,' Adam said. He often defended the town witch against personality attacks, largely because she had always been so nice to him.
'I think the guy died choking on mashed potatoes,' Watch said.
'How can you choke on mashed potatoes?' Cindy asked.
'That's my point exactly,' Watch said.
'How did Ann Templeton's sister die?' Adam asked.