"Avram Davidson - What Strange Stars And Skies" - читать интересную книгу автора (Davidson Avram)

of cracking the shell but who could manage to rip the paper off a packet of bread and butter (huddled
and crouched in the rank, familiar darkness of their burrows, tearing the soft food with their toothless
gums); knew those who would fight, squealing or wordlessly, fight like cornered stoats rather than
surrender a single one of the unspeakably filthy rags into which their unspeakably filthy bodies were
sewn; and those who would strip by some forgotten water-tap and wash themselves and put on clean
things-- but only if provided them, having no longer in many cases the ability to procure either soap or
singlets for themselves. She also knew who could be coaxed another foot or two up the path to
self-respect by the tempting bait of mirror and comb, the subtle appeal such things made to the ravaged
remnants of pride. And she knew when even a handful of toffee or a small picture of the charismatic King
and Queen could brighten a dim corner or an eroded mind.
And often (though not always) with her on this humble and saintly mission went her faithful
secretary-companion Miss Mothermer, though by herself Miss Mothermer would have died a thousand
dreadful deaths in such places; and sometimes Dame Phillipa was accompanied by her unhappy and
unfortunate cousin, Lord FitzMorris Banstock, though usually he shunned the company of any but his
few, familiar servants.
***


On this particular night, Mawhinney, his chauffeur-footman, had been obliged by a Guy Fawkes
bonfire and its attendant crowd to drive the heavily curtained Rolls motor car by a different and less
familiar route; hence he arrived later at the usual place of rendezvous: Miss Mothermer and Dame
Phillipa, tall figure and tiny one, picture hat and toque, had come by and, as was the unspoken
understanding, had not tarried. So many considerations affected the Presence or absence of Lord
FitzMorris Banstock: was he engaged in a conversation particularly interesting by means of his amateur
wireless radio equipment, was he in more pain than a certain degree, was he in less pain than a certain
degree, was the moon too bright-- for one or more of these reasons the star-curs't noble lord might not
come despite his having said he might.
The obedient Mawhinney did not turn his head as his master slowly and awkwardly crept from the
vehicle, inch by inch over the black silk upholstery. Nor, well-trained, did he suggest leaving the car in a
garage and coming with his master. He waited a few moments after the door closed, then he drove
straightaway back to Banstock House, where he stayed for precisely three hours, turning the Tarot cards
over and over again with old Gules, the butler, and Mrs. Ox, the cook. On this Fifth of November night
they observed that the Priestess, the Fool, and the Hanged Man turned up with more than their common
frequency; and were much exercised to conjecture what, if anything, this might portend: and for whom.
And at the conclusion of three hours he put on his cap and coat and drove back to the place set.
Besides those nameless (and all but formless) figures from the silent world, of whom I had spoken
above, there were others who awaited and welcomed Dame Phillipa's presence; and among them were
women with names like Flossie and Jewel and Our Rose, Clarabel and Princess Mick and Jenny the
Hen, Two-Bob Betty and Opaline and Queeny-Kate. She spoke to every one of them, gave them (if
they required it, or thought they might: or if Dame Phillipa thought they might) the money needed to make
up the sum demanded by their "friends" or "protectors"; money for rent or food or what it might be, if
they had passed the stage where their earnings could possibly be enough to concern the swine who had
earlier lived on them. She tended to the cuts and bruises the poor wretches received in the way of
business, and which they were too ashamed to bring before the very proper nurses and the young,
light-heartedly cruel, interns.
Sometimes she interceded for them with the police, and sometimes she summoned the police to their
assistance; her manner of doing this was to direct Miss Mothermer to blow upon the police whistle she
wore upon a lanyard, Dame Phillipa not liking the vibration this made upon her own lips.
Those to whom Dame Phillipa may have seemed but a tall, gaunt eccentric woman, given to wearing
old-fashioned dresses, and hats which ill became her, would do well to recollect that she was among the