Swans and Klons Read Online Free PDF

romantic hike, since Salmon Jo liked the outdoors so much. Rubric’s nervousness changed to exhilaration at traveling by herself in the city for the first time.
    Panna Stencil Pavlina’s apartment building was just a few blocks from where Rubric got off the trolley. It was about ten stories high and looked new. Golden dogs guarded the atrium of the building. Rubric wondered if the gold in their fur made them short-lived, like some fancy breeds of dogs. She had read about people who had to change their dogs every few weeks because they didn’t live longer. Some people really loved breeding dogs and found personal fulfillment in that. Rubric didn’t think she would enjoy it. She would much rather be an artist, like Panna Stencil Pavlina.
    Rubric rang Panna Stencil Pavlina’s doorbell. A Serving Klon in a dark tunic with Gerda embroidered on the chest answered the door. Gerda led Rubric into the living room and took her cloak. Rubric liked the tastefully appointed living room. It was nice to be in such an opulent setting after the plain campus. Another Gerda, this one wearing a yellow tunic, came in with a tray of apples, carrots, and celery and a glass of lemonade. The lemonade had ice cubes in the shape of swans. Rubric munched the celery and apples. She didn’t like carrots. She supposed that liking carrots must not be a genetic trait. Or maybe they were an acquired taste.
    It was hard for her to sit still and wait. Her heart was pounding with anticipation, as if she were running a race instead of sitting on an ottoman.
    A beaded curtain swished open, and Panna Stencil Pavlina strode into the room. Rubric caught her breath at how beautiful she was. Perhaps she could be that beautiful someday! Panna Stencil Pavlina was only about two inches taller, but she wore her long hair dyed black and piled on her head in coils. Her eyes were warm.
    “I’m so glad to meet you, my dear,” Panna Stencil Pavlina said and leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
    “It’s a real honor, Panna Stencil Pavlina,” Rubric said. She couldn’t believe she was meeting her Jeepie Similar for the very first time.
    Panna Stencil Pavlina smiled. “Drop the Panna,” she said. “You can just call me Stencil Pavlina.”
    “Great,” Rubric said.
    “Did you bring your portfolio? I’d love to see it.”
    “Oh, I don’t have a portfolio.” Why didn’t she have one? She should have realized that’s what real artists did.
    Stencil Pavlina looked disappointed, but she said, “Don’t fret, my dear. We can just skip the chitchat, and I’ll show you my art right away. Let’s not waste any time. Come with me.”
    They walked through the spacious apartment. As they passed the kitchen, Rubric spied one Gerda, the one in the yellow tunic, cooking something that smelled divine. The other Gerda was plumping up pillows in the bedroom. Previously, Rubric had thought it was affected to have a set of identical Serving Klons, but now she decided to keep an open mind.
    The last and largest room was Stencil Pavlina’s studio. It was bright and airy, and the ceiling was covered with sculptures of birds. Some were beautiful birds and some were scary birds of prey. They were made of some brown, translucent material that must have been lightweight, since they were hanging from the ceiling. Rubric thought it might be some kind of resin. She couldn’t believe the technical skill Stencil Pavlina must have to produce such detailed and realistic plumage. She had to admit she was feeling a touch of celebrity awe.
    Gradually, she became aware of the other art in the room and stopped staring at the ceiling. A lot of it was incredibly creepy and sad. Anguished faces, too-realistic hearts covered with boils and scars. The most striking thing, in the center of the room, was a large sculpture of a slaughtered unicorn, its mangled limbs and entrails souping onto the floor. She wasn’t sure what material the unicorn was made of.
    “Wow,” Rubric managed to say.