"Nicholas Walker - Ice Princess" - читать интересную книгу автора (Walker Nicholas)

Alex didn't laugh, just took a morose sip of his drink. Toby watched him anxiously. "Oh, c'mon Alex," said Toby. "You said yourself it was only a cold."
"Yeah."
"Well a cold's nothing to worry about, is it?"
"They brought her here in an ambulance in case
you've forgotten," said Alex, "with the lights flashing and the siren going!"
"Aah-that was just a precaution," said Toby. "Have some of this lemon meringue pie, cheer yourself up."
"No thank you."
"You're missing something. Considering the other garbage that cafeteria is selling they do an amazingly good lemon meringue pie."
"I tried to stop her, Toby," said Alex. "We nearly had a fight in the tunnel."
"You couldn't stop Samantha with a bulldozer!" said Toby.
"I only hope her parents realize that," said Alex.
"Well, here's your chance to find out," said Toby as the doors swung open again. Alex, who had already seen Mr. and Mrs. Stephens, scrambled to his feet.
"I'll be right behind you," muttered Toby. "And I do mean right behind you! I'll see you in the car park." He abandoned his lemon meringue and disappeared through the glass doors. Alex hardly noticed him go in his eagerness to speak to Samantha's parents."
"How is she?" he asked.
"She's all right, Alex," said Mrs. Stephens. "It was a false alarm-just a touch of flu."
Alex let out a long sigh of relief.
"Yes-no thanks to you," snapped Mr. Stephens.
"That's hardly fair, Donald," said Mrs. Stephens "It's not Alex's fault."
"Isn't it?" demanded Mr. Stephens. "Tell me, Alex, did you know she was ill before she went on the ice?"
"Yes, sir."
Mr. Stephens turned to look at his wife. "Satisfied?" he said.
She sighed. "Alex you promised to let us know if Samantha showed the least sign of illness," she said. "You know how dangerous even the slightest chill can be to her."
Alex was silent. He could only defend himself by putting the blame on Samantha.
"Well, you had your chance, Alex. You're going to stay away from my daughter from now on," said Mr. Stephens.
"She's my partner," Alex said quietly.
"Not anymore! She's nobody's partner anymore," said Mr. Stephens. Then to his wife, "Come on, Victoria, let's go home."
"Yes, you go and get the car, Donald," she said. "I'll be right with you."
Mr. Stephens gave an angry shrug but disappeared through the glass doors. Mrs. Stephens waited until he had gone then turned back to Alex, a more friendly look on her face.
"You're going to have to do as he says, Alex,"
she said. "I'm sorry, but we really can't let her skate anymore. You'll soon find another partner."
"You think it's that easy?"
She shook her head. "We're all going to have to make sacrifices. Samantha more than any of
us."
"I need to see her."
"She's asleep, the doctor's just given her a sedative," said Mrs. Stephens. "He says she will sleep solidly for at least eight hours-perhaps you can come in with me tomorrow, if her father's not there, that is?"
"She's going to be all right though, isn't she, Mrs. Stephens?"
"Yes, Alex-this time." Mrs. Stephens went out the glass doors after her husband. She was replaced almost immediately by Toby. He went over to his friend who was leaning against the wall, looking upset.
"Were they mad?" Toby asked.
"Not really." Alex shrugged. "They're nice people, Toby. It's Samantha's fault, not theirs-and mine."
"How is she?"
"Asleep," Alex grunted. "Oh, she's going to be all right."
"C'mon then, if we miss the last bus it's a three-mile walk."
"No-you go, Toby. I've got to hang around a bit."
"If you're waiting, I'll stay and keep you company."
"Thanks, but I need you to drop in and explain to my parents. If I phone them they'll only demand I come home."
"OK," said Toby, relieved. "How long shall I say you're going to be?"
Alex shrugged. "As long as it takes," he said.
3.
End of a Partnership
It was two weeks later and the first time Samantha had been back to school. She was sitting in the Principal's study with both her parents.