"Maria V. Snyder - Poison 1 - Poison Study" - читать интересную книгу автора (Snyder Maria V)

When I entered the room, Valek was in the process of arranging plates of steaming food. He had cleared
off a section of the table. The displaced papers balanced in messy piles. He gestured to a chair; I sat,
searching the table for the small vial of antidote.

тАЬI hope youтАЩreтАжтАЭ Valek studied my face. I stared back, trying not to flinch under his scrutiny.

тАЬItтАЩs amazing what a difference a bath and a uniform can make,тАЭ Valek said, absently chewing on a slice
of bacon. тАЬIтАЩll have to remember that. It might be useful in the future.тАЭ Placing two plates of an
egg-and-ham mixture before me, he said, тАЬLetтАЩs get started.тАЭ

Feeling dizzy and flushed, I blurted out, тАЬIтАЩd rather start with the antidote.тАЭ Another long pause from
Valek caused me to fidget in my seat.

тАЬYou shouldnтАЩt be feeling any symptoms. They wonтАЩt arrive until later this afternoon.тАЭ He shrugged and
went to his cabinet. He used a pipette to extract a measure of the white liquid from a large bottle, and
then locked the antidote back inside the cabinet. My interest in the location of the key must have been
obvious because Valek used some type of sleight of hand to make the key disappear. Handing me the
pipette, he sat down on the opposite side of the table.

тАЬDrink up so we can start todayтАЩs lessons,тАЭ he said.

I squeezed the contents into my mouth, cringing at the bitter taste. Valek took the pipette from my hands
and exchanged it for a blue jar. тАЬTake a sniff.тАЭ

The jar contained a white powder, resembling sugar but smelling like rosewood. Gesturing to the two
plates cooling in front of me, Valek asked me to pick the one sprinkled with the poison. I sniffed at the
food like a scent hound nosing for prey. A faint odor of rosewood emanated from the left plate.
тАЬGood. Should you pick up that aroma from any of the CommanderтАЩs food, reject it. The poison is called
Tigtus and a single grain of the powder will kill within the hour.тАЭ Valek removed the tainted food. тАЬEat
your breakfast.тАЭ He indicated the other plate. тАЬYouтАЩll need your strength.тАЭ

I spent the remainder of the day smelling poisons until my head ached and spun. The multitude of names
and aromas began to confuse me, so I asked Valek for some paper, quill and ink. He stilled.

тАЬI donтАЩt know why you continue to surprise me. I should have remembered that General Brazell educates
his orphans.тАЭ Valek flung a book of papers, a quill and ink down in front of me. тАЬTake them back to your
room. WeтАЩve done enough for today.тАЭ

I silently cursed myself for reminding Valek why I had been the next person to be executed as I gathered
the book and writing implements. ValekтАЩs hard, unforgiving expression revealed his thoughts. Taken off
the streets, fed and educated by Brazell, I had repaid BrazellтАЩs kindness by murdering his only child. I
knew Valek would never believe the truth about Brazell and Reyad.

General BrazellтАЩs orphanage was a topic of ridicule from the other Generals. They thought he had gone
тАЬsoftтАЭ after the takeover of Ixia fifteen years ago. This impression suited Brazell. Seen as a kindly old
benefactor, Brazell could continue unchallenged in his administration of Military District 5.

I hesitated at the entrance of ValekтАЩs office, noticing for the first time the three complex locks on the thick
wooden door. Absently fingering the locking mechanisms, I lingered in the doorway until Valek asked,
тАЬNow what?тАЭ