"Anthony Piers - Incarnations Of Immortality 6 - For Love Of Evil" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anthony Piers)

"For me?" She simply could not believe.

"For you. I will have a separate slice. Here, I will cut it
now." He picked up the knife.

FOR LOVE OF EVIL 5

Again her eyes locked on it, and her breath became shallow.
It was as though he were torturing the loaf.

"I will put the knife away," he said as he finished. He
earned it back to the pantry and set it behind the curtain, safely
out of sight. Only then did the girl's breathing revert to normal.

He used a wooden spatula to spread butter generously on
both slices of the coarse black bread, then poured jam on each.
He picked up the slices and walked to her, proffering one.
"For you," he repeated. "I will sit on the other side of me
fire and eat my own."

Hesitantly, her tiny hand came up, as if ready to dart away
at die first sign of menace. Her whole arm was shaking. He
set the bread firmly in it, then took his place on the other side
as promised.

He had been uncertain how to proceed, but now he felt more
confident. "Jolie, I would like you to understand me. May I
tell you my story?"

"Yes, lord," she said. Then, as his glance went to the table
where the knife had lain, "Parry!"

He smiled. "You learn quickly, Jolie. That is one of two
reasons I asked for you."

"You gave your oath!" she cried.

"I asked only for your company this evening. Your father
owed my father, and this is the manner of the payment: your
visit here. After this you will be free; we shall never require
this of you again."

"Oh, please—I never homed you!"

"And I will not harm you!" he snapped. "Eat your bread
and listen; then perhaps you will understand."

She looked at the bread she held as if seeing it for the first
time. "I—really can eat?"