"Robyn Tallis - Giants of Elenna - Planet Builders" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tallis Robyn)

down next to Arkady. "Thank you," she said. "How did you know?"

"I had drudge duty at the school admin office, entering everybody's classes for next rotation, and I came
across birthdays," Daphne explained breathlessly. "Saw yours coming soon, talked to Zach, who found
this recipe for a real, old- fashioned birthday cake in the archives — and here you are!"

There was a moment of silence. Clea felt the others expecting a reaction from Philip-pa, and perhaps the
Alphorionite felt it as well, for she said, "This is very kind of you —"

Zach moved suddenly. "You forgot the fire," he said to Daphne. "They lit the tops of these things with
fire."

"Candles!" Daphne corrected, plunging her hand into her bag. "And here are some substitutes! I didn't
put them on because I couldn't figure out how to do it and not mess up the icing."

Zach and Daphne fussed over the cake, covering Philippa's lack of enthusiasm. Clea turned to study her
friend, whose snow-colored hair reflected the last violet rays of the disappearing sun. Philippa's face was
in shadow but her eyes glowed with the soft green that marked anyone from Alphorion. The glow was
caused by an otherwise harmless parasite in the sclera; the glow also effectively hid any expression. Clea
reached mentally and encountered a familiar mental

wall. Philippa had been one of the first to learn how to shield her mind from the others, and she was using
that shield now.

"Here! Seventeen!" Daphne said, sitting back on her heels. "Now, Zach, you light them, and Philippa,
you are to blow them out. In one breath, if you can."

"What's the purpose of lighting them and blowing them out again?" Noriko asked.

Zach shrugged. "I don't know, but it was part of an ancient flatscreen vid I found in the archives. Called
Sixteen Candles. Philippa, you've got to make a wish first!"

Clea watched as Philippa closed her eyes, then suddenly leaned forward and blew very hard. The
Steady-Flame matches all winked out.

"What did you wish?" Zach asked.

Daphne waved her hands. "No! She can't tell anyone, or it won't come true!"

"That's ridiculous," Noriko said bluntly. "Let's eat the cake."

"Good idea," Will said, leaning forward to help Daphne slice and distribute pieces. Philippa sat quietly,
watching.

When Clea got her piece, she bit cautiously, then grinned. "This is great! Light and sweet! Somehow I'd
gotten the impression historical foods were all coarse and half-spoiled."

Zach snorted. "If the food was so lousy, why did the population grow so fast? Well, if Philippa can't tell
her wish, why don't we try ours? Just think! Our last cycle of school. . .