"TerranceDicks-DoctorWho-StateOfDecay" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dicks Terence)

Ivo swung round and glared at him. 'Karl, get back! Get out of the way!'

'Why, father? Shouldn't I be standing with the others? Just because I'm your son-'

'I said get back!' Clamping a massive hand on his son's shoulder, Ivo shoved him back to the kitchen area. Marta grabbed him by the sleeve and thrust him towards one of the wooden benches. 'Sit there, boy. Do as your father tells you.'

Sulkily Karl sat down. No-one protested.

A few minutes later Habris came into the hall with a squad of guards.

He nodded to Ivo and glanced around the room. 'Are they all here?'

'They are all here,' said Ivo steadily.

Habris began moving along the line, pausing before each of the young men and women. Sometimes he passed on, sometimes he tapped the one before him on the shoulder. Those he tapped moved out of the line and went to stand in a steadily growing group by the door.

Habris went on with his task with mechanical efficiency, looking, as he had been instructed, for any spark of resentment or rebellion. As always, there was nothing. Like cattle, the victims waited to be chosen, and like cattle they stood patiently by the door. When Habris was finished, perhaps a third of those in the line had been chosen. He waved his hand, and the rest moved hurriedly to rejoin their waiting parents.

The Selection was over.

Or - not quite. Habris felt rather than saw that someone was glaring at him. He turned slowly, and saw Karl, Ivo's son, sitting on a bench in the kitchen area, his eyes burning with anger.

Habris knew that Karl was Ivo's son, that Ivo had been holding him back from Selection. And he knew too that the Lords had recently become dissatisfied with the quality of those he had chosen. Here at last was someone with the spirit that they had demanded. Habris pointed to Karl. 'You! Come here!' Karl rose and moved slowly towards him.

Ivo hurried to stand between them. 'No, Habris. He is not for Selection.'

Habris hesitated. He and Ivo were not exactly friends, but they shared a mutual respect, based on their different kinds of authority. Besides, Ivo was responsible for the distribution of food, and he took good care to took after his friends. Like everyone in the Village, Habris's main concern was with his own survival. There was a good chance that Karl was of the kind the Lords were seeking. It would please them if Habris brought him back. Moreover, if Habris felt that Karl was suitable and did not bring him, Aukon would know. It was more than dangerous to keep secrets from Lord Aukon - it was impossible. Somehow, Aukon would pluck the truth from his mind and before long the guards would have a new Captain.

Harshly Habris said, 'I have to follow the procedure. You know that.'

'Why?' said Karl furiously. 'Why must we obey those in the Tower? Why do you obey them, Habris? You're not an evil man. You eat with us sometimes, my father gives you wine...'

Habris's black-gloved fist struck him under the ear, felling him to the ground.

Habris turned to Ivo. 'It has to be done. You understand.'

Ivo said nothing.

Half-dazed, Karl struggled to his knees. Habris reached down to pull him upright. Suddenly Karl thrust his hand aside, and sprinted for the door.

'Stop him,' yelled Habris. The guards were already moving to block Karl's escape. Two of them grabbed his arms, and he was dragged over to the rest of the chosen group.

Habris said, 'The boy has spirit, Ivo. I'll try to get them to take him as a guard. I can promise nothing, you understand.'

Still Ivo did not speak. Something about the expression on his face made Habris shiver and he turned away. With an angry gesture he waved the guards and their prisoners away, and, followed them from the hall without looking back.

Marta ran sobbing towards Ivo, burying her head in his chest. Ivo put a massive arm around her shoulders and stared over her head, his face like stone.