mother of learning第１章パート5

「そんな風にしないで」と彼女は彼の不満な様子を気づいて、言った「キリは退屈だけだ、遊びしたい。あなたのお父さんみたいに真剣すぎる」。「彼と一緒にすんな！彼を全然似てない」とゾリアンは声を上げて、彼女を睨んで言った。だから彼は人と食べるのが嫌いだ。ゾリアンはこの会話を早く終わらせるため、勢いよく朝食を平らげ始めた。「そう。そう。彼みたいわけない」と彼女は言って、会話を変わると「実は思い出したけど、私とあなたのお父さんはコースにいるダミアンを訪れに行く予定がある」。ゾリアンは辛辣な発言を抑えた。いつもダミアンのことばかり。両親は長男のことしか頭にない。ダミアンはたった一年間コースにいるけど、あいつらがもう会いたい。「あの奴のこと、俺と何の関係がある？」とゾリアンは聞いた。「私たちの旅が長くなる」と彼女は言った「ほぼ半年間の旅になる。その間、あなたとフォルトブはアカデミーに行くけど、キリエルのこと心配している。彼女は9歳だから、連れて行きたくない」。彼女の言いたいことを把握すると、彼の顔は青ざめた。「お母さん、俺はまだたったの15歳だから」ゾリアンは文句を言った。「で？私はあなたの年頃もう結婚していた。」と彼女は言った。「それは別の時代。いずれに俺は大体アカデミーにいるから」とゾリアンは返した、「フォルトブに頼んだら？彼は俺より年上で、もう自分のアパートを持っているし」。「フォルトブは四年生だよ。」と彼女は厳しく言った、「彼は今年に卒業するから、成績が優先しないと」。「つまり、彼はもう断ったってことか？」とゾリアンは言い当てた。「それに」彼女は彼の発言を無視すると言った、「フォルトブは無責任なところがあると知ってるでしょう？彼は女の子を育てるには向いてない」。「誰のせいだろう？」とゾリアンは呟いた。彼の皿を押しやった。

“Oh, don’t be like that,” his mother said, noticing his less-than-pleased reaction. “She’s just bored and playing with you. You take things way too seriously, just like your father.”
“I am nothing like my father!” Zorian insisted, raising his voice and glaring at her. This was why he hated eating with other people. He returned to his breakfast with renewed vigor, eager to finish this as soon as possible.
“Of course you’re not,” Mother said airily, before suddenly switching the subject. “Actually, this reminds me of something. Your father and I are going to Koth to visit Daimen.”
Zorian bit the spoon in his mouth to prevent himself from making a snide comment. It was always Daimen this, Daimen that. There were days when Zorian wondered why his parents had three other children when they were clearly so enamored of their eldest son. Really, going to another continent just to visit him? What, were they going to die if they didn’t see him for a year.
“What’s that got to do with me?” Zorian asked.
“It will be an extended visit,” she said. “We’ll be there for about six months, most of it spent traveling from one place to another. You and Fortov will be at the academy, of course, but I’m worried about Kirielle. She’s only nine and I don’t feel comfortable bringing her along with us.”
Zorian paled, finally catching on to what she wanted of him. Hell. No.
“Mother, I’m 15,” he protested.
“So?” she asked. “Your father and I were already married when we were your age.”
“Times change. Besides, I spend most of the day at the academy,” Zorian responded. “Why don’t you ask Fortov to take care of her? He’s a year older and he has his own apartment.”
“Fortov is in his fourth year,” his mother said sternly. “He’s going to graduate this year so he has to focus on his grades.”
"You mean he said no," Zorian concluded out loud.
“And besides…” she continued, ignoring his remark, “I’m sure you’re aware of how irresponsible Fortov can be at times. I don’t think he’s fit to raise a little girl.”
“And whose fault is that?” Zorian grumbled quietly, loudly dropping his spoon and pushing the plate away from him