Monica: переводы

→5

→"I'm afraid so, Claudia. The Queen's letter was addressed to your father."

→The candle flickered as she breathed in dismay. "You mean ..."

→He looked up unhappily. "Yes. And it makes it even more urgent that we get into his study."

→"Master, that letter. Do you know who it was written to?"

→She nodded, reluctant, and crossed the room. At the door she stopped and turned. He stood as if he had been waiting for that, closing the box, the dark green of the Sapient coat with its high collar glinting with strange iridescence.

→"No, no. I'll go to bed and sleep." Handing her the candle, he said, "Be careful how you go down the stairs."

→She couldn't smile. Times like this terrified her. She said, "Shall I send someone ...?"

→"Thank you, Claudia. And don't look so scared. This condition has been killing me for ten years and it's in no hurry. It will probably take another ten to finish me off."

→She brought the lamp closer; he rolled his sleeve up and she saw the innumerable scars around the vein. He made the injection carefully, the microinfuser barely touching the skin, and as he replaced it in the box, his voice was calm and steadier.

→He smiled gently. "No. I can manage."

→She groped, grabbing pens, papers, books, the box. Inside was the small syringe and the ampules; fitting one on carefully, she brought it to him. "Shall I ...?"

→"The blue box. By the astrolabe."

→She grabbed the candle, shook it back into light and cursed the Era for the hundredth time. "Where ... I can't find it..."

→"My medication. Please."

→She came around the telescope quietly. "Master?"

→Jared ran long fingers through his untidy hair. "Claudia, you must go. We'll talk about this tomorrow." Then all at once his face was white, his hands flat on the table. He leaned over and breathed hard.

→"It's my last chance."

→"With him in the house ..."

→They stood a long time in the dimness, listening. The night was still. Somewhere a distant dog barked. They could hear the faint baas of the sheep in the meadow beyond the moat, and an owl, hunting. After a while a rustle in the room told them the cub had curled back up to sleep. The candle guttered and went out. In the silence she said, "I'm going into the study tomorrow. If I can't find out about Giles, at least I can learn something about Incarceron."