"Gordon R. Dickson - Dragon Knight 04 - The Dragon At War" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dickson Gordon R)

Rescue Carolinus!
Rescue Caro-
тАЬAll right! All right, IтАЩve got the message!тАЭ snapped Jim; since it seemed the kettle was prepared to go
on singing тАЬRescue Carolinus!тАЭ indefinitely.
The kettle fell silent. A small puff of white steam did manage to escape from its spout after he had
spoken-but it was absolutely noiseless. The kettleтАЩs copper sides seemed to gleam at him in apology, but
also in mute reproach. Inexplicably, Jim felt guilty for his outburst at it.
тАЬSorry,тАЭ he said aloud, without thinking.
тАЬYou idiot!тАЭ Angie hugged him once more, affectionately. тАЬItтАЩs only a kettle. It doesnтАЩt understand an
apology.тАЭ
тАЬI suppose youтАЩre right.тАЭ There was a cold feeling in the pit of JimтАЩs stomach. тАЬBut evidently Carolinus is
sick and being mistreated by these people who think theyтАЩre helping him get well-as I can well believe
could happen in this particular here and now. IтАЩll have to go to him right away.тАЭ
тАЬWeтАЩll both go to him right away!тАЭ said Angie. тАЬAnd didnтАЩt the kettle sing something about these women
being strong of arm? I think we better take a few men-at-arms along with us. Theoluf!тАЭ
JimтАЩs squire detached himself from the wall and came forward.
тАЬYes, mтАЩLady? MтАЩLord?тАЭ he asked. He was a most unusual-looking squire, having been one of JimтАЩs
men-at-arms until he had been promoted to this new rank. Above the half-coat of armor he wore on his
upper body, his dark face under its slightly graying shock of hair-though he was probably no more than
in his early thirties-and the scar on his face made him look as if he had been around for years.
тАЬPick out eight of the men-at-arms; and you and they come along with us,тАЭ commanded Angie. тАЬAlso
see to the horses and all other preparations for the trip. WeтАЩll leave immediately.тАЭ
She looked past him.
тАЬSolange!тАЭ she called.
The castle cook, a tall woman well into her forties and about fifty pounds overweight-although a lot of
that looked as if it might be muscle-also came toyard from the wall. She was a bit on the stout side to be
curtsying; but she gave a sort of a bob.
тАЬYes, mтАЩLady?тАЭ
тАЬSee food is made up for the menтАЩs saddle bags and for mтАЩLord and myself,тАЭ said Angie. тАЬIn my
absence you are in charge of the inside servants. Yves? Yves Mortain! Oh, there you are. As chief
man-at-arms, youтАЩll be in command of the castle while weтАЩre gone. You both understand?тАЭ
тАЬYes, mтАЩLady,тАЭ said Yves. With Solange, he turned away. She was not from France, in spite of her
name, but actually from the island of Guernsey.
тАЬOne moment!тАЭ snapped Angie. тАЬWho do we have that knows something about these two sisters from
what was it- Hill Farm?тАЭ
тАЬMargot might,тАЭ said Solange, turning back. тАЬShe comes from near there, mтАЩLady.тАЭ
тАЬMargot!тАЭ called Angie. But it seemed that Margot was not among those in the Hall. тАЬSolange, have her
fetched at once and sent to us!тАЭ
тАЬRight away, mтАЩLady,тАЭ said Solange.
Margot made an appearance within a few moments after Solange disappeared through the doorway
back into the keep and its ground-floor kitchen. Apparently she had been back there at some duty or
other when the kettle came in, and had prudently stayed out of sight.
тАЬYes, mтАЩLady,тАЭ she said, curtsying. She also was tall, but narrow, with a wide mouth and graying blonde
hair.
тАЬWhat do you know about two sisters who act as nurses and help sick people-for a fee
undoubtedly-from a place called Hill Farm?тАЭ
тАЬOh thatтАЩd be Elly and Eldra, mтАЩLady,тАЭ said Margot. тАЬThey were the only two children of old Tom
Eldred, who was the biggest and strongest man around the neighborhood. Both Elly and Eldra took after
him-looked like him, I mean, mтАЩLady. As a result no man would have them for fear of being beaten by
his wife; instead of the other way around. Young Tom Davely even left home and ran off, when Eldred