"Nicholas Walker - Ice Princess" - читать интересную книгу автора (Walker Nicholas)

"What about Sue? Has the bank agreed to her going into work late two mornings a week?"
"Yes, Mom. She's been doing it for a year now," said Alex. "Firms do that sort of thing. They like the publicity when you become famous."
"When!" said Mrs. Barnes. "Oh well, I suppose, if Sue's going to be with you, it'll be all right."
"Thanks, Mom," said Alex. He put down his knife and fork and went around the table to give her a kiss. "Why is it you trust Sue and not me?"
"Because, in the five years she was your babysitter, she never let us down once."
"And I have?"
"Not yet," said Mrs. Barnes with a sigh.
It was Thursday before Alex found himself being driven into the Coliseum's enormous car park.
"Look at this place," he said in awe. "It's unbelievable."
"I forgot you hadn't seen it before," said Sue. She parked her battered car in an empty slot by the main door. "Wait until you see the ice. There are two rinks, a main one and a smaller practice rink. There's even an outside one, though that's mainly used for hockey."
They climbed out of the car and Sue led Alex down glass-covered passageways and through inner courtyards and fountains, until he thought he'd never find his way out again. At last she stopped and pointed.
"The men's locker room is down there, just follow the signs," she said. "Keep going and you'll come to the rink."
"Cheers-will your coach be here already?"
"Yes, he starts at six. I've got half an hour with him at seven thirty," she said, glancing at her watch. "If I don't manage to see you before, try and be back at the car by nine, will you?"
"Sure," said Alex. He watched her hurry away in the opposite direction and stood there for a moment feeling lonely. Then he took a deep breath, picked up his sports bag and went down the corridor to the locker room.
Ten minutes later he found himself gazing out across one of the most beautiful rinks in Europe. A few coaches were putting individual students
through their paces but there was so much room he hardly noticed them. He could see Sue over on the other side, on the smaller rink.
Warily he stepped out onto the ice-almost afraid to mark it-and let his momentum carry him along. Every rink has a different feel to it: the atmosphere, the lighting, even the surface is different, and Alex glided around, getting a taste of it all. He glanced at his watch and made his way back to where he'd left his sports bag. He stopped by the entrance to the tunnel and a small figure stepped out of the shadows and put her arms around him. She hugged him so hard it hurt.
"Hey, what is this?" he demanded. "Not getting all sentimental, surely?"
"Sorry," she said, letting go of him.
"You're crying," he said.
"No!" said Samantha, hurriedly brushing a sleeve across her eyes. "It's just the cold in here."
"Yes, and you're not used to that, are you?" he said with a broad grin.
"Shut your face, Alex Barnes," she said charmingly. "I've just been a bit lonely-OK?"
"So have I, Samantha," he said more seriously. "Your letter didn't say much-won't anybody miss you?"
"Ah, there are four different pools here, they'll just think I'm in one of them," she said. "Have you got my skates?"
"Sure." He unzipped his sports bag and produced Samantha's Gelati Golds, her best skates that she always kept at the rink, and which her parents didn't know anything about. She handled them reverently, putting them on with the ease of long practice, then pushed herself onto the ice letting out a long breath of ecstasy.
"Oooh, freedom," she said.
"Yeah, I know how you feel," he said, joining her and gliding around the rink. "This is the first time I've come alive in weeks-how's school?"
"Awful, like something out of the Chalet school books," she said. "I keep thinking I'm in Colditz, only there's no escape committee."
"But you're allowed out for swimming twice a week?"
"Yes-I know it's not enough," she said. "At least it gives us a chance to see each other." Then she added hurriedly, "To keep in practice, I
mean."
"We aren't going to win many competitions on two mornings a week though, are we?"
"Just let my dad calm down a bit, then I'll get to work on him," she said. "I'm going to try and get thrown out of school."
"Oh, that'll make him calm down," said Alex.
"It'll be all right as long as I'm careful about it," said Samantha. "I don't mean burn the school down or anything. I thought I'd just not fit in, you know, with the work and everything."
"Don't you think they've considered that?"
"Hm, that's the trouble," she sighed. "Anyway, I do a fair bit of static training when I can. What about you?"
"I'm doing three, four nights a week, now two mornings."
"What about Saturdays?"
"No way! I've only ever skated on Saturdays just before a competition," said Alex.
"But Alex, you've got to skate Saturdays!" said Samantha. "I've promised Monica."
"Who the hell's Monica?"
"Just a girl I've been giving a bit of coaching to for the last six months," said Samantha. "I told her you'd look after her for a bit-she's usually there about seven."
"Samantha!" Alex started to protest, "I go out Saturday nights."
"Well, I'll leave it up to you," said Samantha sweetly. Then she deliberately changed the subject. "Who's doing your paper route while you're here?"
"Toby."
"Toby?" She was so surprised one skate got away from her. "You've never got Toby on a bike?"
"He's none too happy about it, but I need the cash," said Alex. "How's your money situation?"