"Dickson, Gordon - Call Him Lord" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dickson Gordon R)

Nebula Award, Best Novelette 1966

CALL HIM LORD

Gordon R. Dickson

He called and commanded me
Therefore, I knew him;
But later, on, failed me; and
Therefore, / slew him!"
"Song of the Shield Bearer"

The sun could not fail in rising over the Kentucky hills, ac-
could Kyle Arnam in waking. There would be eleven hou~
and forty minutes of daylight. Kyle rose, dressed, and weat~
out to saddle the gray gelding and the white stallion. He ro~e
the stallion until the first fury was out of the arched andS
Spowy neck; and then led both horses around to tether them
outside the kitchen door. Then he went in to breakfast.
The message that had come a week before was beside his
plate of bacon and eggs. Teena, bis wife, was standing at the
breadboard with her back to him. He sat down and began
eating, rereading the letter as he ate.
". . . The Prince will be traveling incognito under one of his
family titles, as Count Sirii North; and should not be ad-
dressed as 'Majesty.' You will call him 'Lord' . . ."
"Why does it have to be you?" Teena asked.
He looked up and saw how she stood with her back to him.
"Teena" he said, sadly.
"Why?"
"My ancestors were bodyguards to hisback in the wars of
conquest against the aliens. I've told you that," he said. "My
forefathers saved the lives of his, many times when there was
no warninga Rak spaceship would suddenly appear out of
nowhere to lock on, even to a flagship. And even an Emperor
found himself fighting for his life, hand to hand."
"The aliens are all dead now, and the Emperor's got a
hundred other worlds! Why can't his son take his Grand Tour
on them? Why does he have to come here to Earthand
you?"
"There's only one Earth."
"And only one you, I suppose?"
He sighed internally and gave up. He had been raised by
his father and his uncle after his mother died, and in an
argument with Teena he always felt helpless. He got up from
the table and went to her, putting his hands on her and gently
trying to turn her about. But she resisted.
He sighed inside himself again and turned away to the
weapons cabinet. He took out a loaded slug pistol, fitted it into