"Jane Yolen - Briar Rose" - читать интересную книгу автора (Yolen Jane)

After locking all four doors of the car, Becca followed. At the last
minute she lifted her face to the snow and tongued in some snow-
flakes. Magic, she thought. Even when she had to drive in it, snow
had always held some kind of magic. Especially this year, with a
drought forecast on every channel.
There was a musicale in progress in the Home's square entry hall.
It was being led by a balding man with a banjo who urged everyone
to sing along in a voice made breathless by his enthusiasm. About
forty residents, in five fairly even lines of wheelchairs and straight-
backed rockers, were trying to follow his lead. Except for Mrs.
Hartshorn, off in the corner again, tying knots in her long, faded hair
like a white Rastafarian. Even the nurses ignored her.
"Hello, Mrs. Hartshorn," Becca said companionably as she went
by, not expecting any answer, and not getting any.
A ragged chorus of "Oh, Susannah" was straggling towards some
kind of conclusion with at least two of the staff attempting har-
mony. Becca checked but didn't see her grandmother in the crowd.
Since they'd been summoned because Gemma was failing rapidly,
Becca only looked from habit. Some of the residents recognized her
and Mr. Silvers waved. She blew him a kiss which he caught in an
exaggerated mime, as a child might.
Shana was already stabbing away at the elevator button as if
expecting that repeated jabs would bring it faster. And Sylvia was
replacing her earrings and pulling the taupe sweater down over her
flat stomach.
Becca didn't hurry. She knew it would be a while before the
tchery machine answered its summons, even longer before it
would settle with a squeal onto the first floor.
When the door creaked open at last, two of the nursing staff
"Why, hello, Becca," said one. "She was alert and asking for y

The other merelv inclined her head. She was Mrs. Hartshor

Becca smiled at them both, an extra-broad grin to compensate
her sisters who hadn't even acknowledged the nurses' presence,
if w te uniforms rendered them invisible. Then she crowded ii

"Three," Becca prompted, doubting either of them remembei
Thev'd onlv visited twice in four years, living so far away, on(

"I know, I know," Shana said with an exaggerated sigh. I I

"We both have," Sylvia added, now playing with the heavy E
chain around her neck, picking at the Hands of God as if she cc
pry them apart. "But it's so hard, Becca, I don't know how ',

I mean," Sylvia kept on as if Becca hadn't spoken, "if I E
here I couldn't see her every day. Not in this place. Not the 1

Becca smiled again, but closed her eyes because she was af