"Michelle Levigne - Sunsinger Chronicles Book 01 - Sunsinger" - читать интересную книгу автора (Levigne Michelle)

dishwashing duty for punishment. He blamed Bain and beat him up again when no adults could see. Bain
got a lecture on how hitting people never solved any problems.

It didn't do any good to fight back.

“What do you want?” Bain asked, keeping his voice soft and flat. He knew it was stupid to get Toly
angry, but he refused to sound afraid—even if he was.

“The director sent you to the governor, didn't she?” Toly shook Bain until he nodded. “What about?”

“I didn't read the message.”

“You're stupid, you know that?”

“It was sealed. I would have got in trouble.”
“Coward.” Toly shook Bain again, then let him go.

Bain turned and ran. He could run faster than anyone. In seconds, he heard Toly gasping for breath, his
fat feet slapping hard on the ground, raising dust high enough to choke on. Bain hated the heat, but he
hated bruises and bloody noses even more.

Toly gave up before Bain reached the steps at the end of the east building, where Director Chandly had
her office. Bain grinned and leaned against the wall to catch his breath. The wall was hot and dry, soaking
the sweat out of his clothes and arms. It felt cool compared to the air. He was still panting when he went
inside, but he had a message to deliver, and the governor had said it was important.

“Running in this heat?” Director Chandly said when Bain stepped into her shadowed office. She
narrowed her eyes a little and studied the boy. “Let me guess—Toly Gaber picking on you again?”

“Yes, Ma'am,” Bain mumbled.

“I wish I could tell you it's better to get beat up than risk heat stroke, running in this weather.” She shook
her head and sighed. “I don't know why I agreed to run an orphanage at my age. Well, what did
Governor Cowrun say?”

“He said he wants you to come see him right away. It's very important.” Bain resisted the temptation to
blurt the good news, that Captain Lin Fieran wantedhim to ride out in her ship.

“I hope ‘very important’ translates into good news.” The woman stood, managing a smile. She brushed a
few strands of white hair out of her thin face and nodded. Something sparkled in her dark brown eyes. “I
always ask you to run errands because you're trustworthy, Bain—and fast. You do what's right and just
ignore those bullies, understand?”

“Yes, Ma'am.” He looked at his dusty boot toes and tried not to fidget. Bain hated getting lectures, even
when an adult mixed it with praise. They just didn't understand what it was like, having Toly always
picking on him.

“You're smart. One of these days, you'll do things Toly and his friends can't even dream about. They'll
wish you were their friend.”