"David Drake - Belisarius 2 - In The Heart Of Darkness" - читать интересную книгу автора (Drake David)

siege."
"I am surprised that Mahaveda priests would join a rebellion against Emperor
Skandagupta," remarked Belisarius. "I had the impression that Malwa brahmins
were utterly devoted to your empire."
Sanga snorted.
"Oh, I have no doubt their co-operation is involuntary. Most of the priests
were undoubtedly killed when the province revolted, but I'm quite sure the
lord of Ranapur kept a few alive. It is true, the Mahaveda are sworn to commit
suicide before divulging the secret of the Veda weapons. But -- "
The Rajput tightened his lips.
"But the priests are perhaps not completely free of the weaknesses which
afflict we lesser mortals. Especially when they are themselves the objects of
coercion, rather than -- "
He fell silent entirely. Belisarius completed the thought in his own mind.
Rather than the overseers of the work of their mahamimamsa torturers.
Their conversation was the closest Belisarius had ever managed to get to the
subject of the Malwa secret weapons. He decided to see how far he could probe.
"I notice that you refer to these -- incredible -- new weapons as the Veda
weapons. My own men tend to believe they are the products of sorcery."
As he had hoped, his last words stung the Rajput.
"They are not sorcery! Magical, perhaps. But it is the reborn power of our
Vedic ancestors, not the witchcraft of some modern heathen."
That was the official public position of the Malwa Empire: Ancient weapons
from the time of the Vedas, rediscovered by diligent priests belonging to the
new Mahaveda cult. Belisarius was fascinated to see how completely it was
accepted by even Rajput royalty.
But perhaps, he thought, that was not so surprising after all. No people of
India, Belisarius knew, took greater pride in their Vedic ancestry than
Rajputs. The pride was all the greater -- a better word might be ferocious --
for the fact that many non-Rajput Indians questioned the Rajput claim to that
ancestry. The Rajputs -- so went the counter-claim -- were actually recent
migrants into India. Central Asian nomads, not so many generations ago, who
had conquered part of northwestern India and promptly began giving themselves
airs. Great airs! The term "Rajput" itself meant "sons of kings," which each
and every Rajput claimed himself to be.
So it was said, by many non-Rajput Indians. But, Belisarius had noted, it was
said quietly. And never in the presence of Rajputs themselves.
Belisarius pressed on.
"You think so? I have never had the opportunity to study the Vedas myself -- "
(A bald lie, that. Belisarius had spent hours poring over the Sanskrit
manuscripts, assisted in deciphering the old language by his slave Dadaji
Holkar.)
" -- but I did not have the impression that the Vedic heroes fought with any
weapons beyond those with which modern men have long been familiar."
"The heroes themselves, perhaps not. Or not often, at least. But gods and
demi-gods participated directly in those ancient battles, Belisarius. And they
were under no such limitation."
Belisarius glanced quickly at Sanga. The Rajput was scowling, now.
A bit more, I think.
"You must be pleased to see such divine powers returning to the world," the