"S. P. Somtow - Vanilla Blood" - читать интересную книгу автора (Somtow S. P)

—Does the defense counsel propose to attempt to resuscitate the witness? We do have paramedics on
call, do we not? Or will smelling salts do the trick?

—Your Honor, this has gone on far enough. Defense's sense of the theatrical is a little ill-timed, don't you
think? I mean, they defend a few big-name actors, they think they're Perry Mason. Can I continue to
state my objection?

—Your objection stands. Bring on your next witness, Counselor.
—We confess, Your Honor, we're sort of at a loss. In view of the apparent immobility of our star
witness, we'd like to… ah… may I look at my notes?… Jeremy Kindred. Yes. He's on the list.

—Very well.

—State your name for the record.

—Jeremy William Kindred.

—How old are you, Jeremy?

—I'm… I don't know exactly. Fifteen, sixteen.

—Are you a vampire?

—Yes.

—Are you a member of the group variously known as the Brotherhood of Blood, the Cult, the Vampire
Society?

—I was, sir.

—You were?

—I was for a while, sir, but it was just what you'd call peer pressure, and no sir, I didn't kill nobody,
didn't drink nobody's blood.

—Just answer the question, young man.

—Uh, sure, Your Honor.

—Tell us about it… in your own words, if you'd like.

—Objection! This is all irrelevant. The witness wasn't even at the killing. He's just wasting the jury's time.

—I think it's important to my case, Your Honor, that we clearly illustrate the circumstances under which
these kids could come to believe that these crimes were not only acceptable, but desirable.

—Listen. The cameras are off, Counselors. There's no more need for posturing. The jury is going to zone
out com-pletely unless you entertain them with a good story. So, kid, let's have it.