Читать книгу Feather Boy онлайн | страница 3
“Catherine,” repeats Miss Raynham with that scratch and that edgy irritation we all know so well.
“Hello,” says Catherine at last.
“Hello, Catherine,” says the class.
She shifts position, as though she’s Goldilocks and she can’t get comfortable in Mummy Bear’s chair. “Thank you for letting me be here.”
“Oh boy,” says Niker, and then seems to choke. Could be the chalk at his throat.
“I…” begins Catherine, but Miss Raynham’s patience is at an end. She strides to the front of the class.
“We’re very fortunate to have the services of Catherine, who is going to lead a project between children from this class and the residents of the Mayfield Rest Home.”
“Is that the barmy bin?” asks Weasel.
“No, Wesley, it is not the barmy bin. And it is partly to counter such ignorant attitudes about the senior members of our society that this project is being undertaken. Now, since we apparently need to return to basics, can anyone tell me what a Rest Home is?”
Niker’s hand goes up. “It’s a vegetable shop,” he says.
“Jonathan Niker. Explain yourself.”
“Well, my Aunt Maisie was there and she was a vegetable.”
“In a time that was yesterday and tomorrow and eternally present,” says Catherine suddenly, “there lived a prince who had been silent for as long as anyone could remember.” Her voice is so low and urgent that even Niker doesn’t say “Fat Chance”. “And,” Catherine continues, “his mother the Queen was heartbroken at her son’s muteness and the King heartbroken at his wife’s grief. So it was, that on the Prince’s eighteenth birthday, the King issued a proclamation saying that any man or woman who could make the Prince speak would receive the richest reward in the kingdom. However, the penalty for those who tried and failed would be instant death.”
“Cool,” says Weasel.
“They tell nursery stories in the nursery,” says Niker, twirling the sharp point of a pencil in the palm of his hand.
“Does that mean,” Catherine asks, faster than Miss Raynham, “you think this class is too grown up for such tales?”