"Jane Yolen - The White Babe" - читать интересную книгу автора (Yolen Jane)

MarjoтАЩs hand met hers halfway and they both smiled.
The child between them cooed.


In the morning Selna took Jenna to the infirmarer, Kadreen, who checked the babe from the crown of
her head to the soles of her feet.
тАЬA strong one,тАЭ said Kadreen. She did not smile but then she rarely did. It was said she had stitched
too many wounds and set too many bones to find life amusing enough for a smile. But Selna knew that
even as a young woman, before she had chosen her calling, Kadreen had not found much to smile at.
Perhaps, Selna thought, the calling found her because of that.
тАЬHer fingers grip surprisingly well for a newborn. And she can follow the movement of my hand. That
is rare. I clapped my hands to test her hearing and she startled at once. She will be a good companion for
you in the woods.тАЭ
Selna nodded.
тАЬMake sure you feed her at the same time and she will sleep through the night within the first moonтАЩs
change.тАЭ
тАЬShe slept through the night last night,тАЭ Selna said.
тАЬShe will not again.тАЭ


But despite the infirmarerтАЩs warning, Jenna did sleep soundly through that night and the next. And
though Selna tried to feed her on the schedule dictated by KadreenтАЩs long experience with infants, she
was always too busy to do so. Yet the babe seemed to thrive on the erratic meals and, in the woods,
strapped to SelnaтАЩs breast or back, she was as quiet as any seasoned hunter.
Selna boasted of her fosterling at every opportunity until everyone but Marjo grew weary of it.
тАЬYou are in danger of becoming a bore,тАЭ said Donya, the head kitchener, when Selna dropped off a
fine roebuck and seven rabbits after a two-day hunt. тАЬShe is a fine babe, no doubt. Strong and quite
pleasant to look upon. But she is not Great Alta. She does not walk across the Lake of Sighs nor ride the
summer rainbow nor leap between the drops of falling rain.тАЭ
тАЬI did not say she was the goddess,тАЭ mumbled Selna. The child at her breast laughed delightedly as
she tickled it under the chin with one of the rabbitтАЩs feet. Then she looked at the kitchener squarely and
roared. тАЬAnd I am not a bore.тАЭ
тАЬI did not say you were. I said you were in danger of becoming one,тАЭ said Donya calmly. тАЬAsk
anyone.тАЭ
Selna glared around the kitchen but the girls all dropped their eyes and suddenly the room was quiet
of voices. All that could be heard were the snick-snack of kitchen knives at work. DonyaтАЩs young ones
knew better than to tangle with one of the warriors. Selna, especially, was known for her hot temper
though she, unlike some of them, seldom bore a lasting grudge. Still, not a one of them envied her
fosterling that temper when it roared.
Selna shook her head, still angry, and turned back to Donya. тАЬI shall want the rabbit skins,тАЭ she said.
тАШThey will make a soft lining for the pack. Jenna has fine skin.тАЬ
тАЬJenna has a babyтАЩs skin,тАЭ said Donya evenly, ignoring SelnaтАЩs scowl. тАЬAnd of course you shall have
the fur. IтАЩll also save you the deerskin. It should make a fine pair of leggings and many mocs.тАЭ
Selna smiled suddenly. тАЬShe will need many mocs.тАЭ
тАЬBut not right away,тАЭ Donya said, with a laugh.
There was a titter around the room as her own fosterlings enjoyed the joke.
тАЬWhat do you mean?тАЭ The anger was back in SelnaтАЩs voice.
Donya set down the heavy crockery bowl and wooden spoon, wiped her hands on her aprons, and
held out her arms. Reluctantly Selna recognized the signal and unstrapped the babe, handing it over to
Donya.