"Kate Wilhelm - Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wilhelm Kate)

тАЬWhat do you mean?тАЭ
тАЬWhen the accident happened, I was down to the mill. Having a bite with Avery. He was just
finishing up down there. Section of the floor caved in, you know that old part where we should
have put in a new floor last year, or year before. It gave way somehow. And suddenly there they
were, the kids. Out of nowhere. No one had time to go get them, to yell for them to come running.
Nothing, but there they were. They got their own two out of there and up to the hospital like fire
was on their tails, David. Out of nowhere.тАЭ
He looked at David with a fearful expression, and when David simply shrugged, he shook his
head and left the emergency room, looking down the hall first, a quick, involuntary glance, as if
to make sure that they would permit him to leave.
Several of the elders were still in the waiting room when David went there. Lucy and Vernon
were sitting near the window, staring out at the black night. Since ClarenceтАЩs wife died, he and
Lucy had lived together, not as man and wife, but for companionship, because as children they had
been as close as brother and sister, and now each needed someone to cling to. Sometimes sister,
sometimes mother, sometimes daughter, Lucy had fussed over him, sewed for him, fetched and carried
for him, and now, if he died, what would she do? David went to her and took her cold hand. She was
very thin, with dark hair that hadnтАЩt started to gray, and deep blue eyes that used to twinkle
with merriment, a long, long time ago.
тАЬGo on home, Lucy. IтАЩll wait, and as soon as there is anything to tell you, I promise IтАЩll
come.тАЭ
She continued to stare at him. David turned toward Vernon helplessly. VernonтАЩs brother had
been killed in the accident, but there was nothing to say to him, no way to help him.
тАЬLet her be,тАЭ Vernon said. тАЬShe has to wait.тАЭ



file:///F|/rah/Kate%20Wilhelm/Wilhelm,%20K.%20...0Where%20Late%20the%20Sweet%20Birds%20Sang.txt (20 of 91) [7/1/03 1:52:59 AM]
 file:///F|/rah/Kate%20Wilhelm/Wilhelm,%20K.%20-%20Where%20Late%20the%20Sweet%20Birds%20Sang.txt

David sat down, still holding LucyтАЩs hand. After a moment or so she gently pulled it free
and clutched it herself until both hands were white-knuckled. None of the young people came near
the waiting room. David wondered where they were waiting to hear about the condition of their own.
Or maybe they didnтАЩt have to wait anywhere, maybe they would just know. He pushed the thought
aside angrily, not believing it, not able to be rid of it. A long time later W-1 entered and said
to no one in particular, тАЬHeтАЩs resting. HeтАЩll sleep until tomorrow afternoon. Go on home now.тАЭ
Lucy stood up. тАЬLet me stay with him. In case he needs something, or thereтАЩs a change.тАЭ
тАЬHe wonтАЩt be left alone,тАЭ W-l said. He turned toward the door, paused and glanced back, and
said to Vernon, тАЬIтАЩm sorry about your brother.тАЭ Then he left.
Lucy stood undecided until Vernon took her arm. тАЬIтАЩll see you home,тАЭ he said, and she
nodded. David watched them leave together. He turned off the light in the waiting room and walked
slowly down the hall, not planning anything, not thinking about going home, or anywhere else. He
found himself outside the office that W-l used, and he knocked softly. W-1 opened the door. He
looked tired, David thought, and wasnтАЩt sure that his surprise was warranted. Of course, he should
be tired. Three operations. He looked like a young, tired Walt, too keyed up to go to sleep
immediately, too fatigued to walk off the tension.
тАЬCan I come in?тАЭ David asked hesitantly. W-l nodded and moved aside, and David entered. He
never had been inside this office.
тАЬClarence will not live,тАЭ W-l said suddenly, and his voice, behind David, because he had not
yet moved from the door, was so like WaltтАЩs that David felt a thrill of something that might have
been fear or more likely, he told himself, just surprise again. тАЬI did what I could,тАЭ W-l said. He