"Andre Norton - Star Ka'at 01 - Star Ka'at" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

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Proofed by an unsung hero.



Star Ka'at
Andre Norton


For Impy, Surely a Star Ka'at




1
Two and Two
The muggy, hot summer weather had settled on Washington. Carefully,
Jim Evans crept under the loose board in the fence. Beyond was a tangle of
weeds high enough to hide him if he kept on his knees as he worked his
way to where the wrecker had torn down an old house and left only a cellar
hole. There was trash and junk all over the place. And it smelled in the
heat. Jim wrinkled his nose as he settled cross-legged, his back against a
pile of chipped bricks, and drew a deep breath of relief. Of course,
disappearing would not stop them. He scowled. Why couldn't they just
leave him alone for once? Just for once! At least he had escaped having to
go to the beach today, but when he went back he would listen to them
yak-yak-yak: Even now he nearly plugged his ears with his fingers just
thinking of Mrs. Dale's nice, "reasonable" voice going on and on and on
about how Jim must learn to make friends with other boys.

Jim's scowl grew deeper. Then Mr. Dale would take over, with talk
about Little League and the Y swimming and—Jim had heard it all about
a million times. While all he wanted was to be by himself. No one seemed
to understand that.

He had overheard them talking about him, saying things like
"brooding" and "shock." But when the whole world you had always
counted on breaks up in little pieces—well, you can't just go to Cubs or
Little League (he had never liked baseball anyway) as if nothing happened.
You remembered, and hurt inside, and sometimes tried to believe that all
the past two months were a bad dream you were going to wake up from
pretty soon. There would be a pancake morning because it was Saturday
and Mom had more time. Then maybe Dad would say, "How about a run
out to the lake" and—

Jim wedged his fist into his mouth. He was not going to cry!

He tugged at the neck band of his Tee shirt. His skin itched there.
Maybe a bug had crawled in. He made an effort to look down, though he