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

'But they are only bad if you let them be bad,' Mrs Strawberry said. 'It is all in your attitude. Take for example when George's mother called. The boy has been missing for twenty-four hours. In this town that probably means we will never see him again. I could have got all upset when I heard the news, and sympathised and maybe cried with George's mother. But keeping a positive attitude, I was able to see that everyone has to go sometime.'
'So you told George's mother just to have another kid?' Cindy asked.
Mrs Strawberry beamed. 'Exactly. I was able to focus on what was possible, not what was impossible.'
'But it is possible,' Adam said, 'that if you get rid of Mr Snakol now, the lives of many kids might be saved.'
'That is another thing I won't do,' Mrs Strawberry said. 'It is too negative an act.'
'But he's a murderer!' Adam said strongly.
'But like each of us, he has his destiny to live. If I dismiss him, then I will be tampering with destiny, and that I will never do. Personal destiny is the foundation of this creation.'
'But with that kind of philosophy you'll never do anything,' Cindy said.
Mrs Strawberry smiled. 'I don't have to do anything. I just have to maintain a positive attitude and everything will be all right.'
Adam groaned. 'That is totally ridiculous. What if I were to set your office on fire? Would you just let me?'
'Are you going to set my office on fire?' Mrs Strawberry asked.
'Of course not,' Adam said. 'I was just using that as an example. What would you do?'
'I wouldn't do anything. I would just maintain a positive attitude and everything would be all right.'
'But you could die in the fire,' Cindy said.
'What fire?' Mrs Strawberry asked.
'The one Adam is talking about lighting.'
'But he just said he wasn't going to do it,' Mrs Strawberry replied. 'Children, why search for problems where they don't exist?'
'But Mr Snakol is for real,' Adam said. 'He is dangerous. And you hired him. You are responsible.'
'I refuse to take responsibility,' Mrs Strawberry said. 'And because I refuse to do so, his acts do not affect me. My mind is at peace and my soul is content.'
'But what about George?' Cindy complained.
'What about him?'
'We told you!' Adam screamed. 'He's probably dead!'
Mrs Strawberry gently shook at finger at him. 'See, this is what happens when you don't maintain a positive attitude. You are upset, and for no reason.'
'He has plenty of reason to be upset,' Cindy said, standing in anger. 'You're just a cold uncaring woman. AH your philosophical and psychological babble is nonsense. You are not qualified even to be a principal.'
'I refuse to accept responsibility for my qualifications,' Mrs Strawberry said. 'I am what I am. You are what you are. If George is dead, he is what he is.'
Adam also stood up realising it was hopeless. 'That makes absolutely no sense.'
'It is not my responsibility to make sense,' Mrs Strawberry said.
Adam turned to Cindy. 'Let's get out of here. Sally was right. We're the only ones who can help George.'
Mrs Strawberry also stood up and stretched out her hand. 'I am happy we had a chance to meet. Although you obviously dislike me, I choose to believe we are actually close friends. That way I maintain a positive attitude and I do not feel bad about this meeting.'
But Adam would not shake her hand. 'I feel sorry for you, Mrs Strawberry. One day something difficult will happen in your life and your positive attitude will evaporate like steam in the air. Then you will really be in trouble.'
Mrs Strawberry grinned. 'I will not take responsibility for that day.'
Cindy grabbed Adam's hand and led him towards the door. 'First period is about to start,' she said. 'Should we go?'
'We have to go,' Adam said. 'We have to keep an eye on him.'


Six

During class, Mr Snakol had them break into teams of three for lab. Naturally Adam and Cindy and Sally chose to be together. They gathered at a lab table at the rear of the classroom. Carrying a foul smelling container, Mr Snakol went around the room and gave them each a living frog to dissect, depositing the creatures in a glass bowl. Sally immediately threw a fit, right in the teacher's face.
'I told you I will not perform dissections on poor little frogs!' she yelled.
Mr Snakol stared at her with his bright green eyes. 'Once it is dead it won't feel a thing. And if you don't cut it open, Sarah, then you will fail the lab portion of the class. Then you will have to stay behind class each day until you make up the work.'
Sally met his stare. 'Like George?'
Mr Snakol turned away. 'George is not here today.'
Sally went to say something else but Adam stopped her. 'That was a dangerous move,' Adam whispered as they watched Mr Snakol move to the next group of lab partners. 'You can't just accuse him in public.'
'Why not?' Sally asked. 'What's he going to do? Sue me?'
'We need more proof of what he's done,' Cindy said.
Sally snorted. 'Proof is useless. There is no one in this town to bring it to.'
'Then what do you suggest we do?' Cindy asked.
Sally threw Mr Snakol a scornful look. 'I say kill the monster.'
'We can't do that,' Adam said. 'We do not have absolute proof he killed George. Also, we are not sure if he is a monster.'
'Gimme a break,' Sally said. 'The guy eats living hamsters. You're the one who saw how wide his mouth opens when he's feeding. He can't be human.'