"Laura Resnick - The Fortunes of Temperance" - читать интересную книгу автора (Resnick Laura)

them) was _much_ more interested in discussing my past than my future, and he
seemed utterly fixated on my childhood and my relationship with my parents. I
was briefly reassured by his interest in my dreams, but then I was shocked to
discover he couldn't interpret them to predict the future. Indeed, it was his
bizarre comments about my dreams and what he believed they revealed about my
relationship with my father, of all things, that convinced me I should stop
attending those sessions!
I recognized several of the people in Madame Rabinowitz's waiting room
today, including the Queen of Cups, who was looking as prosperous as ever
(read: _fat_). I said hello and asked how her dragon is doing; she's an active
member of BRIAR (Beast Rescue, Intervention, And Rehabilitation), saving
abandoned, abused, or thoroughly misunderstood animals and eventually finding
adoptive homes for them. I could tell by her puzzled expression that she had
no idea who I was (well, these political wives do meet a _lot_ of people), so
I reminded her that we'd sat next to each other last year at one of the Hanged
Man's notoriously unique dinner parties -- which was when she'd told me about
the dragon she'd recently saved from execution over trumped-up arson charges.
It turns out the dragon is fine, but she has yet to find anyone to
adopt him, since everyone still clearly remembers the publicity surrounding
him last year. I suggested that changing his name, which is Blaze, might be
advisable. Meanwhile, she asked me to sign a petition prohibiting the capture,
transport, sale, and slaughter of sea monsters. I finished doing so just as
she was called in for her Reading with Madame Rabinowitz.
The Knight of Swords had been just ahead of the Queen of Cups, so he
exited the Reading room as she entered. I was surprised, pleased, and




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chagrined all at once (the chagrin was because I was wearing an old gown and
hadn't done anything with my hair). I had met the Knight briefly on All Souls
Night and, in the course of our conversation, had suggested he come here for a
Reading. Since he's more into entrail-interpretation and Rune stones, I had
the impression he just wasn't taking me seriously. Evidently he'd been more
moved by my arguments than I had realized, for here he was.
He smiled and kissed my hand. "Temperance! I was hoping I'd see you
here."
"Really?" I blurted. "I mean ... Hello! I'm so glad you decided to give
Madame Rabinowitz a chance."
He shrugged in that devil-may-care way which had first attracted me and
said, "Well, why not?"
Okay, I admit it: I am dangerously drawn to the bad boy type. I mean
... the Knight of Swords! _Everyone_ knows his reputation; but I just can't
seem to help myself. Hoping he'd ask for my telewave number before leaving, I
stammered, "And how did it go? I mean, do you think you'll be coming back?"
He stroked my hand lightly before finally releasing it. "Well, Tarot
cards aren't sheep's entrails, that's for sure."
"You were disappointed?"
"Let's just say the experience didn't blow me out of the moat."