"Brian Daley - The Starfollowers Of Coramonde" - читать интересную книгу автора (Daley Brian)

For friends, John, and their respective ladies,
and for Myra A. Daley, who knew
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I am indebted to the following people for their assistance and information:
James Luceno, Myra Di Blasio, Linda Lionetti, and Major John C. Speedy of the
United States Military Academy, West Point
And to my editor, Mr. Lester del Rey, for generous measures of his patience,
prodding, guidance, candor, and encouragement; I owe thanks for whatever virtues
this book may possess.
A Del Key Book
Published by Ballantine Books
Copyright ┬й 1979 by Brian Daley
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
Published in the United States by Ballantine Books, a division of Random House,
Inc., New York, and simultaneously in Canada by Random House of Canada, Limited,
Toronto, Canada.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 78-61501
ISBN 0-345-30142-0
Manufactured in the United States of America
First Edition: February 1979 Third Printing: June 1982
Cover art by Carl Lundgren
PARTI
Protocols of the Sword
Prologue
IN a narrow ring of light in unmeasured darkness stood the Accused.
His head was bowed, hands clasped together within long sleevesтАФflesh seeking its
own contact for reassurance, in vain. An arraignment in Shardishku-Salam┬г, these
proceedings were unconcerned with justice. Their function was retribution. The
Accused was aware of punishments available here; that was a form of punishment.
Yardiff Bey felt nothing change in the enormous Fane of the Masters. Yet between
one moment and the next he knew the attention of the Five was upon him. No
indication escaped to his face or posture, but in. a shielded cinderbox in his
soul, fears blew brighter.
He damped them down. Was he not first among sorcerers, subordinate only to the
Masters? Brief, awful elation fanned up his spine at the thought. In flying back
to Shardishku-Salama* in his demon-ship, Cloud Ruler: to plead before the
vindictive Lords of the City, Yardiff Bey had taken his greatest dare. He was hi
more hideous danger than most men could envision in wildest speculation.
A waitingness hung around him, and cruel, dispassionate curiostity. He'd always
exulted in the cold intellects of the Five, but now it was their displeasure
directed at him. The single beam of light glinted from the strange ocular that
was bound hi place where his left eye had once been. He sent a stem command
through every part of himself, physical and incorporeal: Be still!
He bowed deeply, unhurriedly. When bis voice came, it was impeccable in its calm
control.
"Masters, your servant has returned. Will he be heard?" He sensed mirthless
amusement. Did They
2
think he'd come on a fool's quest for mercy? There was a vast stirring somewhere
in the colossal temple.