Beauty Robin McKinley

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I thought. Particularly since it wouldn t do any good.
The sun was low in the sky by the time I had stabled Greatheart, groomed him, and again cleaned the
tack by hand. Yes, and I did notice that all the mended bits have been replaced, and I thank you, I said
aloud, polishing the bits. If I didn t do it, the invisible hands would; I had also noticed that the bits and
buckles had been shined to mirror hue after I d left them a respectable glossy clean last night, and felt that
I was being put on my mettle. My hands were still bandaged; they felt a little stiff, but they no longer
troubled me and the magic bandages didn t get soiled, even after I d soaped and oiled the leather.
I went a little way into the garden after leaving the stable and sat on a marble bench, still warm from
the sun, to watch the afternoon change to evening grey and flame. Or at any rate it could be the sun that
warmed it, I thought; I also took notice that the bench was just the right height for someone of my short
length of leg. I turned my head to look over another sweep of the gardens, and saw the Beast coming
towards me. He was already very near, and I bit back a cry; he walked as silently as the shadows
crawling towards my feet, in spite of the heavy boots he wore. Today he was wearing brown velvet, the
color of cloves, and there was ivory-coloured lace at his throat, and hanging low over the backs of his
hands.
Good evening, Beauty, he said.
Good evening, Beast, I replied, and stood up.
Please don t let me disturb you, he said humbly. I will go away again if you prefer.
Oh no, I said hastily, trying to be polite. Will you walk a little? I love to see the sun set over a
garden, and yours are so fine. We walked in silence for a minute or two; I ve had better ideas, I
thought, taking three steps to his one, although I could see that he was adjusting his pace to mine as best
he could. Presently I said, a little out of breath, but finding the silence uncomfortable: Sunset was my
favourite time of the day when we lived in the city; I used to walk in our garden there, but the walls were
too .high. When the sky was most beautiful, our garden was already dark.
Sunset no longer pleases you? the Beast inquired, as one who will do his duty by the conversation.
I d never seen a sunrise I was always asleep, I explained. I used to stay up very late, reading.
Then we moved to the country I suppose I like sunrise best now; I m too tired, usually, by sunset, to
appreciate it, and I m usually in a hurry to finish something and go in to supper or I was, I said sadly.
Longing for home broke over me suddenly and awfully, and closed my throat.
We came to a wall covered with climbing roses which I recognized at once: This must be where
Father had met the Beast. We went through the break in the wall, and I looked around me at the glorious
confusion; the Beast halted a few steps behind me. Then suddenly in a final fierce bloom of light before it
disappeared, the sun filled the castle and its gardens with gold, like nectar in a crystal goblet; the roses
gleamed like facets. We both turned towards the light, and I found myself gazing at the back of the
Beast s head. I saw that the heavy brown mane that fell to his shoulders was streaked with grey. The light
went out like a snuffed candle, and we stood in soft grey twilight; the sky the sun had left behind was pink
and lavender.
The Beast turned back to me. I could look at him fairly steadily this time. After a moment he said
harshly: I am very ugly, am I not?
You are certainly, uh, very hairy, I said.
You are being polite, he said.
Well, yes, I conceded. But then you called me beautiful, last night.
He made a noise somewhere between a roar and a bark, and after an anxious minute, I decided it
was probably a laugh. You do not believe me then? he inquired.
Well no, I said, hesitantly, wondering if this might anger him. Any number of mirrors have told
me otherwise.
You will find no mirrors here, he said, for I cannot bear them: nor any quiet water in ponds. And
since I am the only one who sees you, why are you not then beautiful?
But I said, and Platonic principles rushed into my mouth so fast that they choked me silent. After
a moment s reflection I decided against a treatise on the absolute, and I said, to say something: There s
always Greatheart. Although I ve never noticed that he minds how I look.
Greatheart?
My horse. The big grey stallion in your stable.
Ah, yes, he said, and looked at the ground.
Is anything wrong? I said anxiously.
It would have been better, perhaps, if you had sent him back with your father, said the Beast.
Oh dear is he not safe? Oh, tell me nothing will happen to him! Could I not send him back now? I
won t have him hurt, I said.
The Beast shook his head. He s safe enough; but you see beasts other beasts don t like me. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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