Гарри Поттер и Принц-полукровка
The Other Minister
Andhowdareanyonesuggestthatitwaslackofpolicementhathadresultedinthosetwoverynastyandwell-publicizedmurders?OrthatthegovernmentshouldhavesomehowforeseenthefreakhurricaneintheWestCountrythathadcausedsomuchdamagetobothpeopleandproperty?AndwasithisfaultthatoneofhisJuniorMinisters,HerbertChorley,hadchosenthisweektoactsopeculiarlythathewasnowgoingtobespendingalotmoretimewithhisfamily?
"Agrimmoodhasgrippedthecountry,"theopponenthadconcluded,barelyconcealinghisownbroadgrin.
Andunfortunately,thiswasperfectlytrue.ThePrimeMinisterfeltithimself;peoplereallydidseemmoremiserablethanusual.Eventheweatherwasdismal;allthischillymistinthemiddleofJuly...itwasn’tright,itwasn’tnormal...
Heturnedoverthesecondpageofthememo,sawhowmuchlongeritwenton,andgaveitupasabadjob.Stretchinghisarmsabovehisheadhelookedaroundhisofficemournfully.Itwasahandsomeroom,withafinemarblefireplacefacingthelongsashwindows,firmlyclosedagainsttheunseasonablechill.Withaslightshiver,thePrimeMinistergotupandmovedovertothewindow,lookingoutatthethinmistthatwaspressingitselfagainsttheglass.Itwasthen,ashestoodwithhisbacktotheroom,thatheheardasoftcoughbehindhim.
Hefroze,nosetonosewithhisownscared-lookingreflectioninthedarkglass.Heknewthatcough.Hehadhearditbefore.Heturnedveryslowlytofacetheemptyroom.
"Hello?"hesaid,tryingtosoundbraverthanhefelt.
