"Barker, Clive - The Great and Secret Show v1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Barker Clive)

"Already I hear my voice in you," he said. "I've had tricks played on me, too. It makes us cautious, yes?"
"Yes."
"Of course you must see me," he said, stepping out of the trees. "I am your father. I am the Jaff."
As Jo-Beth reached the bottom of the stairs she heard Momma call from her room.
"Jo-Beth? What's happening?"
"It's all right, Momma."
"Come here! Something terrible...in my sleep..."
"A moment, Momma. Stay in bed."
"Terrible—"
"I'll be back in a while. Just stay where you are."
He was here, in the flesh: the father Tommy-Ray had dreamed of in a thousand forms since he'd realized that other boys had a second parent, a parent whose sex they shared, who knew men's stuff, and passed it down to their sons. Sometimes he'd fantasized that he was some movie star's bastard, and that one day a limo would glide up the street and a famous smile step out and say exactly what the Jaff had just said. But this man was better than any movie star. He didn't look like much, but he shared with the faces the world idolized an eerie poise, as though he was beyond needing to demonstrate his power. Where that authority came from Tommy-Ray didn't yet know, but its signs were perfectly visible.
"I'm your father," the Jaff said again. "Do you believe me?"
Of course he did. He'd be a fool to deny a father like this.
"Yes," he said, "I believe you."
"And you'll obey me like a loving son?"
"Yes, I will."
"Good," the Jaff said, "so now, please fetch me my daughter. I called her but she refuses to come. You know why..."
"No."
"Think."
Tommy-Ray thought, but no answer immediately sprang to mind.
"My enemy," the Jaff said, "has touched her."
Katz, Tommy-Ray thought: he means that fuckwit Katz.
"I made you, and Jo-Beth, to be my agents. My enemy did the same. He made a child."
"Katz isn't your enemy?" Tommy-Ray said, struggling to put this together, "he's your enemy's son?"
"And now he's touched your sister. That's what keeps her from me. That taint."
"Not for long."
So saying Tommy-Ray turned and ran back to the house, calling Jo-Beth's name in a light, easy voice.
Inside the house, she heard his call and was reassured. It didn't sound like he was suffering. He was at the yard door by the time she stepped into the kitchen, arms spread across its width, leaning in, grinning. Wet with sweat, and almost naked like this, he looked like he'd just run up the beach.
"Something wonderful," he grinned.
"What?"
"Outside. Come with me."
Every vein in his body seemed to be bulging from his skin. In his eyes was a gleam she didn't trust. His smile only deepened her suspicion.
"I'm not going anywhere, Tommy..." she said.
"Why are you fighting?" he asked, cocking his head. "Just because he touched you it doesn't mean you belong to him."
"What are you talking about?"
"Katz. I know what he did. Don't be ashamed. You're forgiven. But you have to come and apologize in person."
"Forgiven?" she said, her raised voice encouraging the ache in her skull to new mischief. "You've got no right to forgive me, you asshole! You of all—"
"Not me," Tommy-Ray said, the smile unwavering. "Our father."
"What?"
"Who art outside—"
She shook her head. The ache was getting worse.
"Just come with me. He's in the yard." He left off holding the door frame and started across the kitchen towards her. "I know it hurts," he said. "But the Jaff'll make it better."
"Keep away from me!"
"This is me, Jo-Beth. This is Tommy-Ray. There's nothing to be afraid of."
"Yes there is! I don't know what, but there is."
"You think that because you've been tainted by Katz," he said. "I'm not going to do anything to hurt you, you know that. We feel things together, don't we? What hurts you hurts me. I don't like pain." He laughed. "I'm weird but I'm not that weird."
Despite her doubts, he won her over with that argument, because it was the truth. They'd shared a womb for nine months; they were half of the same egg. He meant her no harm.
"Please come," he said, extending his hand.
She took it. Immediately the ache in her head subsided, for which she was grateful. In place of the chatter, her name, whispered.
"Jo-Beth."