The Angel Makers Read Online Free

grow into a marriageable woman. It was the first clue Ferenc had ever had of how much things were likely to change once he was neatly married off to some carefully socialised woman. Sari , he thought, she wouldn’t be like that at all.
    ‘I think—’ Ferenc began, utterly unsure of what he was thinking, but Jan held up a hand to halt him.
    ‘I don’t expect you to decide right away, of course. The two of you hardly know each other. But I’m not well.’ Jan’s voice became heavy. ‘Sari doesn’t know – or maybe she does; it’s hard to tell what she does and doesn’t know – but I’m not going to be around much longer. I know what the village thinks of Sari, and I’m worried about what will happen to her after I’m dead, who will protect her. I know you’re a good boy, Ferenc, and I’m sure you’ll be a good man. I’ve seen the way you look at Sari, and with your background, you’re less superstitious than the rest of the people here – you can see what little truth there is behind the things that people say about my daughter. Also, her mother was from your family, so I feel your family would be more likely to accept her.’
    Ferenc nodded. This was all very strange, but it was possible, perhaps, wasn’t it?
    ‘Her age is an issue, of course,’ Jan went on. ‘She’s only fourteen – too young for marriage. You know, her mother – your aunt – she was married to me at just under sixteen, and it was too young. She was happy, I think, but certainly not ready to be a mother. I have my suspicions that it may have had something to do with her death – her age, I mean. Aside from that, though, Sari is different. She’s not some featherheaded little girl who wants nothing more than to be a wife and a mother. She’s clever, and outspoken, and difficult. She needs to learn to trust you, and she needs to become her own person before she becomes your wife. I’m talking to you about this now because of the state of my health, but the last thing I want is for her to marry now. I would want you to wait until she’s eighteen.’
    Four years? That gave Ferenc pause. Jan seemed to expect him to decide, if not immediately, then soon, but how was he supposed to know now what Sari was going to be like in four years? She could grow ugly in that time; he’d seen it happen. But Jan was looking at him with such implacable expectation of agreement that there seemed nothing else for it.
    ‘That sounds – very sensible,’ he replied at last. Jan smiled slightly, knowingly.
    ‘I have talked to Sari about this,’ Jan said, ‘and I must tell you she’s not overly keen on the idea. But that’s to do with the idea of marriage, rather than with you, and she’s agreed in principle.’ He smiled more broadly. ‘She did grudgingly admit that you seem nice.’
    ‘Well. Good.’ It was a start, after all.
    ‘Yes. I should talk to your family about this, obviously, but I wanted to mention it to you first. You don’t have to decide to anything straight away, but come back tomorrow, and you can start getting to know Sari. Make sure you’re making an informed decision.’ Jan heaved himself out of his chair, and gave Ferenc a clumsy, yet awkwardly affectionate clap on the shoulder – under the force of which Ferenc swayed slightly. ‘You’re a good boy,’ he said, in a tone of dismissal, which Ferenc took as the hint to leave that it was.
    So it began.
    Ferenc had tried hard over the summer. After his talk with Jan he went straight home and spoke to his father, recounting his conversation with Jan and Jan’s proposal. On hearing it, Ferenc’s father laughed, a short amazed bark, which faded as soon as he saw the gravity in his son’s eyes. ‘You’re not seriously…’ he began.
    ‘I am. I told Jan I’d consider it.’
    After that, Ferenc’s father was silent for a long time. He spoke briefly to his wife, who was also silent for a long time. Ferenc felt disapproval wafting off them like steam, especially