"1 poison" - читать интересную книгу автора (Snyder Maria V)

УYes,Ф Valek said. He alternated between examining the cup in his hand and absentmindedly staring at the rows of cold food.
УI passed?Ф
He nodded, still distracted. Then he walked to his desk, and he gently placed the cup down. Shaking his head, he picked some papers up only to put them back unread.
УI should have known you would try to trick me.Ф
My heated tone drew his eyes. I wished then that IТd remained silent.
УYouТre all fired up. And it isnТt because of the test. Explain yourself.Ф
УExplain? Why do I have to explain? Maybe you should explain why you read my journal.Ф There, IТd said it.
УJournal?Ф Valek looked at me in amazement. УI didnТt read anything of yours. But if I had, it would have been within my rights.Ф
УWhy?Ф I demanded.
An incredulous look settled on ValekТs face. His mouth opened and closed several times before he was able to voice his thoughts. УYelena, you confessed to murder. You were caught straddling ReyadТs body with a bloody knife in your hand. I searched your file for a motive. There was none. Only a report that you refused to answer all questions.Ф
Valek stepped closer. He lowered his voice. УSince I donТt know what motivates you to kill, I canТt predict if youТll do it again or what might set you off. IТm bound by the Code of Behavior, so I had to offer you the choice of becoming the new taster.Ф He drew a deep breath and continued. УYouТll be very close to the Commander on a daily basis. Until I can trust you, IТll be watching you.Ф
My anger leaked away. Why should I expect Valek to trust me when I didnТt trust him?
My composure returned. УHow do I win your trust?Ф
УTell me why you killed Reyad.Ф
УYouТre not ready to believe me.Ф
Valek averted his gaze to the conference table. I covered my mouth with my hand. Why had I used the word ready? Ready implied that he would believe me at some point. Pure wishful thinking on my part.
УYouТre right,Ф he said.
We seemed to be at an impasse.
УI passed your test. I want my antidote.Ф
Roused into action, Valek drew a dose, handing it to me.
УNow what?Ф I asked.
УLunch! WeТre late.Ф He hustled me out the door. I gulped the white liquid as we moved.
As we neared the throne room, the noise of many voices speaking at once echoed through the halls. Two of the CommanderТs advisers were arguing. Officers and soldiers clumped behind the two advisers. The Commander leaned against a nearby desk, listening intently.
The group debated the best way to locate and recapture a fugitive. The right side insisted upon using an oversupply of soldiers and tracking dogs, while the left claimed that a few clever soldiers would work. Brute force versus intelligence.
The exchange, while loud, lacked anger. The guards stationed around the room stood relaxed. Surmising that this type of debate was common, I wondered if the fugitive was a real person or just part of a hypothetical exercise.
Valek moved next to the Commander. I stood behind them. The debate made me squirm because I couldnТt help imagining myself as the poor soul being hunted.
I pictured myself running through the woods, out of breath, and straining to hear the sounds of pursuit. Unable to blend into a town because a new face would alert the soldiers on patrol. Bored soldiers whose only job was to watch, who were familiar with the townТs inhabitants.
Every citizen of the Territory of Ixia had a specific job. After the takeover, everyone had been appointed an occupation. A citizen was allowed to move to a different town or Military District, but proper forms were required. A completed transfer request needed approval from the supervisor, and proof that a position was being held at the new address. Without the proper documents, a civilian found in the wrong neighborhood was arrested. Visiting other districts was acceptable, but again only as long as the proper papers were obtained and shown to the soldiers on arrival.
While working in isolation with Brazell and Reyad, I had obsessively thought about escape. Thinking of freedom had been better than dwelling on my life as a laboratory rat. With no family or friends outside the manor to hide me, though, the southern lands were my best option, assuming I could penetrate the well guarded border.
I had created elaborate fantasies of stealing away to Sitia, finding an adoptive family and falling in love. Corny, sentimental rubbish, but it was my only elixir. Every day when the experiments began, my mind would focus on Sitia, finding bright colors, loving gestures and warmth. Holding those images in my mind, I endured ReyadТs tests.
But even if I had been given the opportunity to escape, I donТt know if I would have seized it. Although I remembered nothing of my birth family, I did have a family living within the manor house. The other lost children who had been taken in. My sisters. My brothers. My children. I learned with them, I played with them and I took care of them. How could I abandon them? To think of May or Carra taking my place was too much to bear.
I bit on my finger until I tasted blood, and dragged my thoughts back to the present. I had escaped from Brazell. He would leave the castle in two weeks and return home, probably to the next round of experiments with a different laboratory rat. My heart went out to her, whoever she was. Brazell was brutal. She was in for a rough time. But I had saved her from Reyad.
Pulling my hand away from my mouth, I inspected the bite mark. Not too deep, it wouldnТt scar. I traced the network of semicircular scars that covered my fingers and knuckles. When I looked up, I caught Valek staring at my hands. I laced them behind my back.
The Commander raised his hand. Quiet descended in an instant. УExcellent points from both sides. We will put your theories to the test. Two teams.Ф Pointing to the two main debaters, the Commander said, УYouТll be the Captains. Assemble your team and organize a plan of attack. Recruit as needed. Valek will supply a fugitive from one of his men. You have a fortnight to prepare.Ф
The noise level rose as the Commander headed toward his office with Valek and I close behind.
Valek shut the office door, muffling the commotion. УIs MarrokТs escape to Sitia still bothering you?Ф he asked.
The Commander frowned. УYes. Sloppy work, that pursuit. Marrok must have known you were in MDЦ8. You really need to train a couple of protщgщs.Ф
Valek looked at him in mock horror. УBut then I wouldnТt be indispensable.Ф
A quick smile graced the CommanderТs face, before he spotted me lingering near the corner. УWell, Valek, you were right about this one. She survived your test.Ф Then to me, he said, УCome here.Ф
My feet obeyed despite my hysterical heart.
УAs my official food taster, youТre to report to me with my breakfast. IТll give you my daily itinerary and expect you to be present at each meal. I will not accept tardiness. Understand?Ф
УYes, Sir.Ф
He glanced at Valek. УShe looks fragile. Are you sure sheТs strong enough?Ф
УYes, Sir.Ф
The Commander appeared unconvinced. His golden eyes tracked from me to Valek as he contemplated. I hoped with desperation that he wasnТt looking for an excuse to fire me.
УAll right. Since I missed lunch, Valek, you will join me for an early dinner. Yelena, you start as my food taster tomorrow morning.Ф
УYes, Sir,Ф Valek and I said in unison. We were dismissed.
We returned to ValekТs office to gather my extra uniforms and journal. Valek escorted me to his living quarters, located in the central part of the castle. As we traveled the main hallways, I noticed that the bright areas of stone on the wall outnumbered the darker zones. A vast array of paintings must have been taken down. We also passed several large, colorless rooms that had been redesigned as either offices or barracks.
It occurred to me that the CommanderТs functional style and stark standards had robbed the castle of its soul. All that remained was a dead stone building reassigned to purely utilitarian purposes.
I was too young to remember what life was like before the takeover, but I had been taught in BrazellТs orphanage that the monarchy had been corrupt and its citizens unhappy. The takeover had been just that; to call it a war would be inaccurate. Most of the KingТs soldiers had switched loyalty to the Commander. They had been disgusted with promotions based on bribery and blood ties instead of hard work and skill. Orders to kill people for minor infractions because a member of the elite was angry caused sour feelings among the men.