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

Worry that I might not be completely rid of Reyad pulsed through me, but not a trace of remorse. The only thing I was sorry for was not having the courage to kill Brazell when I had the chance. Sorry that I was unable to save my Уsisters and brothersФ at BrazellТs orphanage from turning sixteen. Sorry that I was unable to warn May and Carra, and help them run away.
The CommanderТs voice brought my attention back to the war room.
УAltercation, Valek?Ф He sighed like an indulgent parent. УHow many dead?Ф
УNone. I couldnТt justify the disposal of soldiers merely following General BrazellТs orders to hunt down and kill our new food taster. Besides, they werenТt very smart. Seems she was on the verge of giving them the slip when she ran into me. Good thing though, or I might not have found out about the incident.Ф
The Commander studied me for a while before turning to Brazell.
It was all Brazell needed. Leaping from his chair, he shouted, УShe should be dead! I want her dead! She killed my son!Ф
Valek said, УBut the Code of BehaviorЕФ
УDamn the Code. IТm a General. She killed a GeneralТs son and here she isЕФ Emotion choked off BrazellТs voice. His fingers twitched as if he wanted to wrap his hands around my throat that instant. ReyadТs ghost floated behind his father, a smirk on his face.
УItТs a dishonor to me that she lives,Ф Brazell said. УAn insult. Train another prisoner. I want her dead!Ф
Instinctively, I stepped behind Valek. The other Generals were nodding their heads in agreement. I was too terrified to look at the Commander.
УHe has a sound argument,Ф the Commander said without a trace of emotion tainting his voice.
УYou have never deviated from whatТs written in the Code of Behavior,Ф Valek argued. УStart now and youТll begin a trend. Besides, youТll be killing the brightest food taster weТve ever had. SheТs almost trained.Ф He gestured to the tray of cold food beside the Commander.
I glanced around Valek to see the CommanderТs expression. Thoughtful, he pursed his lips while he considered ValekТs argument. I crossed my arms, digging my fingernails deep into my flesh.
Brazell, sensing a change of heart, took a step toward the Commander. УSheТs smart because I educated her. I canТt believe youТre going to listen to this upstart, conniving, sneaky thiefЧФ Brazell stopped. He had said too much. He had insulted Valek, and even I knew that the Commander had a special fondness for Valek.
УBrazell, leave my food taster alone.Ф
My breath hissed with relief.
Brazell attempted to argue, but the Commander silenced him. УItТs an order. Go ahead and build your new factory. Consider your permit approved.Ф He dangled a carrot in front of Brazell. Was a new factory worth more than my death?
Silence followed as everyone waited for Brazell to comment. He gave me a look full of venom. ReyadТs ghost grinned, and I guessed from his cat-that-got-the-rat smile that the permit approval was very important to Brazell. More important than he let on to the Commander. The rage and indignation over my missing the noose was genuine, but he could build his factory now, and then kill me later. He knew where to find me.
Brazell left the room without saying another word. The amused ghost mouthed the words УSee you next time,Ф before following his father.
When the other Generals started to protest the permit approval, the Commander listened to their arguments in silence. Momentarily forgotten, I studied the two Generals. Their uniforms were similar to the CommanderТs except that they wore black jackets with gold buttons. Instead of real diamonds on their collars, each General had five embroidered diamonds stitched on their coats over their left breasts. No medals or ribbons decorated their uniforms. The CommanderТs troops wore only what was needed for recognition and for battle.
The diamonds on the General sitting close to the Commander were blue. He was General Hazal in charge of Military District 6, just west of BrazellТs MDЦ5. General TessoТs diamonds were silver for MDЦ4, which bordered to the north of BrazellТs. If a district planned a big project, like building a new factory or clearing land for farming, a permit approved by the Commander was required. Smaller projects, like installing a new oven at a bakery or building a house within the district, only needed approval from that districtТs General. Most Generals had a staff to handle the processing of new permit applications.
It was apparent from the GeneralsТ complaints that BrazellТs permit was in the initial processing stages. Discussions with the bordering districts had started, but the CommanderТs staff had not yet reviewed and authenticated the factoryТs plans. Usually once the staff recommended approval, the Commander signed off on the application. The Code of Behavior only stated that permission must be received prior to building, and if the Commander wanted to bypass his own process he could do so.
We had been taught the Code of Behavior at the orphanage. Anyone wishing the honor of running errands into town had to memorize and recite the Code perfectly prior to gaining the privilege. Besides reading and writing, the education I had received from Brazell had also included mathematics and the history of IxiaТs takeover by the Commander. Since the takeover, education was available to everyone and not just a privilege for the men of the richer classes.
My education, though, took a turn for the worse when I began УhelpingФ Brazell. Memories threatened to overwhelm me. My hot skin felt tight. I trembled, forcing my mind to the present. The Generals had finished their rebuttal of the CommanderТs decision. Valek tasted the CommanderТs cold food, and pushed it closer to him.
УYour concerns are noted. My order stands,Ф the Commander said. He turned to Valek. УYour food taster had better live up to your endorsements. One slip and youТll be training her replacement prior to your reassignment. YouТre dismissed.Ф
Valek took my arm and steered me from the chamber. We walked down the hallway until the door of the war room clicked shut. Then Valek stopped. The features on his face had hardened into a porcelain mask.
УYelenaЕФ
УDonТt say anything. DonТt threaten or bully or intimidate. IТve had enough of that from Brazell. IТll make every effort to be the best taster because IТm getting used to the idea of living. And I donТt want to give Brazell the satisfaction of seeing me dead.Ф Tired of examining ValekТs every facial expression and straining to hear every small nuance in his voice for clues to his mood, I moved away from him. He followed me. When we reached an intersection, ValekТs hand grasped my elbow. I heard him utter the word medic as he guided me to the left. Without once looking at his face, I let him steer me to the infirmary.
As I was led to an empty examining table, I squinted at the medicТs all-white uniform. The only color on the uniform was two small red diamonds stitched on the collar. My mind was so muddled with fatigue that it took me some time to figure out that the short-haired medic was a female. With a grunt, I stretched out on the table.
When the woman left to get her supplies, Valek said, УIТll post some guards outside the door, in case Brazell changes his mind.Ф Before leaving the infirmary, I saw him speak with the medic. She nodded and glanced toward me.
The medic returned with a tray full of shiny medical instruments that included a jar of a substance that looked like jelly. She scrubbed my arms with alcohol, making the wounds bleed and sting. I bit my lip to keep from crying out.
УTheyТre all superficial, except this one,Ф the medic said as she pointed to the elbow I had used to break the glass. УThis wound needs to be sealed.Ф
УSealed?Ф It sounded painful.
The medic picked up the pot of jelly. УRelax. ItТs a new method for treating deep lacerations. We use this glue to seal the skin. Once the wound heals, the glue is absorbed into the body.Ф She scooped out a large amount with her fingers and applied it to the cut.
I winced at the pain. She pinched my skin together, holding it tight. Tears rolled down my cheeks.
УIt was invented by the CommanderТs cook, of all people. There are no side effects and it tastes great in tea.Ф
УRand?Ф I asked, surprised.
She nodded. Still holding the skin together, she said, УYouТll need to wear a bandage for a few days and keep the cut dry.Ф She blew on the glue for a while before releasing her grip. She bandaged my arm. УValek wants you to stay here tonight. IТll bring you dinner. You can get some rest.Ф
I thought eating might require too much effort, but when she brought the hot food, I realized I was starving. A strange taste in my tea caused me to lose my appetite in an instant.
Someone had poisoned my tea.
Chapter Seven
I waved down the medic.
УThere is something in my tea,Ф I cried. I began to feel light-headed. УCall Valek.Ф Maybe he had an antidote.
She stared at me with her large brown eyes. Her face was long and thin. Longer hair would soften her features, her short style merely made her resemble a ferret.
УItТs sleeping pills. ValekТs orders,Ф she said.
I let out a breath, feeling better. The medic gave me an amused look before she left. My appetite ruined, I shoved the food aside. I didnТt need sleeping pills to help me give in to the exhaustion that lapped up my remaining strength.
When I woke the next morning, there was a blurry white blob standing at the end of my bed. It moved. I blinked and squinted until the image sharpened into the short-haired medic.
УDid you have a good night?Ф
УYes,Ф I said. The first night in a long time free of nightmares, although my head felt as if wool had been shoved into it, and a rank taste in my mouth didnТt promise for a good morning.
The medic checked my bandages, made a noncommittal sound and told me breakfast would be a while.