"Anderson, Poul - 1965 Flandry 05 - Agent of the Terran Empire" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anderson Poul)

"Cerdic would not like it."
"Too late then. He could hardly challenge you for so bold and successful a stroke."
"And he is getting too proud of himself. He could stand a little taking down." Nartheof chuckled, a deep vibration in his shaggy breast. "Aye, by Valtam's beard, I'll do it! Give me the figures nowЧ"
Presently the general looked up from the papers and gave Flandry a puzzled stare. "If this is the case, and I believe it is," he said slowly, "it'll be a first-rate catastrophe for the Empire. Why are you with us, human?"
"Maybe I've decided I like your cause a little better," shrugged Flandry. "Maybe I simply want to make the best of my own situation. We Terrestrials are adaptable beasts. But I have enemies here, Nartheof, and I expect to make a few more. I'll need a powerful friend."
"You have one," promised the barbarian. "You're much too useful to me to be killed. AndЧandЧdamn it, human, somehow I can't help liking you."
IV
The dice rattled down onto the table and came to a halt. Prince Torric swore good-naturedly and shoved the pile of coins toward Flandry. "I just can't win," he laughed. "You have the gods with you, human."
For a slave, I'm not doing so badly, thought Flandry. In fact, I'm getting rich. "Fortune favors the weak, highness," he smiled. "The strong don't need luck."
"To Theudagaar with titles," said the young warrior. He was drunk; wine flushed his open face and spread in puddles on the table before him. "We're too good friends by now, Dominic. Ever since you got my affairs in orderЧ"
"I have a head for figures, and of course Terrestrial education helpsЧTorric. But you need money."
"There'll be enough for all when we hold the Empire. I'll have a whole system to rule, you know."
Flandry pretended surprise. "Only a system? After all, a son of King PendaЧ"
"Cerdic's doing," Torric scowled blackly. "The dirty avagar persuaded Father that only oneЧhimself, of courseЧshould succeed to the throne. He said no kingdom ever lasted when the sons divided power equally."
"It seems very unfair. And how does he know he's the best?"
"He's the oldest. That's what counts. And he's conceited enough to be sure of it." Torric gulped another beakerful.
"The Empire has a better arrangement. Succession is by ability alone, among many in a whole group of families."
"WellЧthe old waysЧwhat can I do?"
"That's hardly warrior's talk, Torric. Admitting defeat so soonЧI thought better of you!'
"But what to doЧ?"
"There are ways. Cerdic's power, like that of all chiefs, rests on his many supporters and his own household troops. He isn't well liked. It wouldn't be hard to get many of his friends to give allegiance elsewhere."
"ButЧtreacheryЧwould you make a brotherslayer of me?"
"Who said anything about killing? JustЧdislodging, let us say. He could always have a system or two to rule, just as he meant to give you."
"ButЧlook, I don't know anything about your sneaking Terrestrial ways. I suppose you mean to dishЧdisaffect his allies, promise them more than he givesаЕаWhat's that wordЧbribery? I don't know a thing about it, Dominic. I couldn't do it."
"You wouldn't have to do it," murmured Flandry. "I could help. What's a man for, if not to help his friends?"

Earl Morgaar, who held the conquered Zanthudian planets in fief, was a noble of power and influence beyond his station. He was also notoriously greedy.
He said to Captain Flandry: "Terrestrial, your suggestions about farming out tax-gathering have more than doubled my income. But now the natives are rising in revolt against me, murdering my troops wherever they get a chance and burning their farms rather than pay the levies. What do they do about that in the Empire?"
"Surely, sir, you could crush the rebels with little effort," said Flandry.
"Oh, aye, but dead men don't pay tribute either. Isn't there a better way? My whole domain is falling into chaos."
"Several ways, sir." Flandry sketched a few of themЧpuppet native committees, propaganda shifting the blame onto some scapegoat, and the rest of it. He did not add that these methods work only when skillfully administered.
"It is well," rumbled the earl at last. His hard gaze searched Flandry's impassively smiling face. "You've made yourself useful to many a Scothanian leader since coming here, haven't you? There's that matter of NartheofЧhe's a great man now because he captured that Imperial arsenal. And there are others. But it seems much of this gain is at the expense of other Scothani, rather than of the Empire. I still wonder about Nornagast's death."
"History shows that the prospect of great gain always stirs up internal strife, sir," said Flandry. "It behooves the strong warrior to seize a dominant share of power for himself and so reunite his people against their common enemy. Thus did the early Terrestrial emperors end the civil wars and become the rulers of the then accessible universe."
"UmmmЧyes. GainЧpowerЧwealthЧaye, some good warriorЧ"
"Since we are alone, sir," said Flandry, "perhaps I may remark that Scotha itself has seen many changes of dynasty."
"YesЧof course, I took an oath to the king. But suppose, just suppose the best interests of Scothania were served by a newer and stronger familyЧ"
They were into details of the matter within an hour. Flandry suggested that Prince Kortan would be a valuable allyЧbut beware of Torric, who had ambitions of his own.

There was a great feast given at the winter solstice. The town and the palace blazed with light and shouted with music and drunken laughter. Warriors and nobles swirled their finest robes about them and boasted of the ruin they would wreak in the Empire. It was to be noted that the number of alcoholic quarrels leading to bloodshed was unusually high this year, especially among the upper classes.
There were enough dark corners, though. Flandry stood in one, a niche leading to a great open window, and looked over the glittering town lights to the huge white hills that lay silent beyond, under the hurtling moons. Above were the stars, bright with the frosty twinkle of winter; they seemed so near that one could reach a hand up and pluck them from the sky. A cold breeze wandered in from outside. Flandry wrapped his cloak more tightly about him.
A light footfall sounded on the floor. He looked about and saw Gunli the queen. Her tall young form was vague in the shadow, but a shaft of moonlight lit her face with an unearthly radiance. She might have been a lovely girl of Terra, save for the little horns andЧwellЧ
These people aren't really human. They look human, but no people of Terra were ever soЧsimple-minded! Then with an inward grin: But you don't expect a talent for intrigue in women, Terrestrial or Scothan. So the females of this particular species are quite human enough for anyone's taste.
The cynical mirth faded into an indefinable sadness. HeЧdamn it, he liked Gunli. They had laughed together often in the last few months, and she was honest and warm-hearted andЧwell, no matter, no matter.
"Why are you here all alone, Dominic?" she asked. Her voice was very quiet, and her eyes seemed huge in the cold pale moonlight.
"It would hardly be prudent for me to join the party," he answered wryly. "I'd cause too many fights. Half of them out there hate my insides."
"And the other half can't do without you," she smiled. "Well I'm as glad not to be there myself. These Frithians are savages. At homeЧ" She looked out the window and sudden tears glittered in her eyes.
"Don't weep, Gunli," said Flandry softly. "Not tonight. This is the night the sun turns, remember. There is always new hope in a new year."
"I can't forget the old years," she said with a bitterness that shocked him.
Understanding came. He asked quietly: "There was someone else, wasn't there?"
"Aye. A young knight. But he was of low degree, so they married me off to Penda, who is old and chill. And Jomana was killed in one of Cerdic's raidsЧ" She turned her head to look at him, and a pathetic attempt at a smile quivered on her lips. "It isn't Jomana, Dominic. He was very dear to me, but even the deepest wounds heal with time. But I think of all the other young men, and their sweetheartsЧ"