"Terry Dowling - Roadsong" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dowling Terry)

and Ty had heard characterized these presumptuous coastal sailors; moreover, he had a warmth both
Ladies took as admiring approval, that only the Restante Lady Say probably saw as simple courtesy and
indulgent good humour.

Tom watched them approach the quarterdeck and yet again resolved to be careful. These women - the
three of them really - were intelligent, reputedly formidable, and at least two - the corporeal two -
accustomed to considerable personal power. Ty and Ti were friends at the moment, thank goodness,
conducting themselves well, but this was the first hour of the first day of a two-day journey. There were
simply too many opportunities for imagined slights, for rumours and jealousies to arise, too many
appraising eyes, too many expectations and judgements.
And there was the Lady Say.
Tom knew he should not have brought her up on deck yet. Her impassive gaze and disconcerting silence
added a tension to this first meeting he would have avoided at all costs. He had not reckoned on Ty and
Ti appearing so soon.
Watching them, he realized that he had unwittingly assumed they would leave the morning, let the voyage
routine establish itself, then make tactful afternoon appearances later, all so casual and matter of fact.
Not so. Here they were, climbing to the poop, one in mourning, the other strikingly adorned for this time
of day, about to involve him in the beginnings of an inevitable and rigourous diplomacy.
And there were two other passengers to add to the equation, the young scholar, Tamas Hamm, and that
genial National ecologist, Hugh Archimbault. When Tom saw the men approaching close behind the
Ladies, he silently prayed they were not ajaltas, those Nationals who endured so much, did almost
anything to be near Ab'O notables.
True, they had made their bookings after the Ladies had, but both seemed composed, serious men,
without that intense, wild-eyed, monomaniacal gaze ajaltas always seemed to have. When they joined
the party on the quarterdeck, Tom performed careful introductions, determined to make the most of the
situation now it was upon them.
"Mr Hamm, Mr Archimbault, it is the honour of Blue and this ship to introduce the three great Ladies
who make this voyage possible. I do this in the old way, by age of rank. The Restante Lady Say, as you
see, is a creop. It may be her pleasure to speak with you, but please allow me to learn her wishes
regarding society. She is on deck at my suggestion, not her own. I fear I may have compromised her.
"The Lady Ty is the widow of Gennon Bay Jargus, Clever Man of the Emmened, who recently went into
the gas at Crater Lake, glory be his. The Lady Ti is wife and hetaera of Chios Lans Sancellin of the
Chitalice. I honour them all.
"Noble Ladies, may I present by rank of Nation, the notable Hugh Archimbault of Port Sire, National
ecologist presently lecturing in the exchange program at Inlansay, and from Port Merilyn the notable
Tamas Hamm, presently enroled in postgrad studies in the Inlansay matins."
"Gentlemen," the dowager Ty said, inclining her head, smiling beautifully, pleased with the Blue Captain's
strict adherence to protocol. Lady Ti's echoing of the word was noticeably cooler. It was absurd, Tom
decided, but perhaps Ti saw her Emmened namesake as once again a single woman, in mourning, yes,
Ab'O, yes, but one so beautiful. And just possibly the Tarasin piece on her forehead did betray her.
Tom regarded the men, for the moment allowed to stay by the graciousness of the Lady Ty if not her less
approving companion, not ordered away peremptorily as so often happened.
Were they ajaltas - or just unsuspecting passengers awed by this incredible development, their
inconceivable good fortune? Tom studied the scholar's face, the serious grey eyes, the light brown hair
over the high forehead; then Archimbault's, round, florid, the cheeks creased by his best smile, eyes
comically wide, disbelieving.
Nationals had done such things before. The great romances were full of improbable courtships and
pursuits, all manner of futilities and reprisals. It was impossible to know, dangerous to speculate. Ajaltas
were possibly created by events such as this.
They attempted pleasantries, both men, tried to make polite conversation, but the tension was too great.