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

as anything, to the fact that his outlandish foreign master interpreted
obedience as devotion to his purpose rather than his person.
"You misunderstand him, master. Rana Sanga is quite famous. Most Indians --
and all Maratha -- consider him the truest of Rajputs. He is perhaps the
greatest Rajput warrior today living, and certainly the finest Rajput general.
His exploits are legend. He is a king also, of course, but -- " the Maratha
smiled " -- that means little by itself. There are so many Rajput kings, most
of whom rule their little hilltop as if it were all the universe. But Sanga is
of the Chauhar dynasty, which is perhaps their greatest line of royalty. And
the Chauhar are known for their thought as well as their archery and
swordsmanship."
Belisarius cocked his eyebrow. "And so?"
Dadaji Holkar shrugged. "And so, Rana Sanga is the truest of Rajputs, and
takes his deepest pride in that fact. But because he does so, and thinks like
a Chauhar thinks, he also ponders on what being a Rajput means. He knows, you
see -- he has even been heard to make the occasional jest about it -- that the
Rajput lineage is really not so much grander than that of we disreputable
Maratha hillmen. Yet he also knows that the lineage is true, nonetheless. And
so he thinks about lineage, and how it comes to be, and how truth emerges out
of illusion. And he wonders, I think, where the difference between truth and
illusion lies, and what that means for his dharma."
The slave stroked the horse's neck. "Those are dangerous thoughts, master.
Outside of their sorcerous weapons, and their vast armies, the Malwa have no
resource so valuable to them as the skill of Rana Sanga on the battlefield.
But I believe they fear that resource as much as they treasure it."
"Do they have reason to fear him?" asked Belisarius.
Dadaji Holkar squinted into the distance where the Rajputs had disappeared.
"Hard to know, master. Raghunath Rao once said the day would come when Rana
Sanga would choose between Rajputana's honor and Rajputana's duty. And that,
when that day came, the truest of Rajputs would understand that only honor
gives duty meaning."
The Roman general scratched his chin. "I was not aware the two men knew each
other."
"Oh, yes. They fought once, in single combat. They were both young at the
time, but already famous warriors. It is a well-known episode."
Belisarius started slightly.
"I'm amazed either of them survived!"
The slave smiled.
"So were they! And everyone! But survive they did. Badly wounded, of course,
both of them. Early in the fray, with his bow, Sanga slew the Maratha
chieftain's horse and then wounded Rao in the arm. But he became overconfident
and closed too soon. Rao gutted the Rajput's mount and then pressed him with
sword and iron-clawed gauntlet. Here the combat was even, and they fought
until both were bloody and disarmed. Then they fought by hand. No man in India
beside Rana Sanga could have held his own against Raghunath Rao in unarmed
combat. He was not as skilled, of course, but he was much larger and stronger.
By the end of the day, both men were too weak and exhausted to lift an arm, or
even stand. So they laid down side by side and continued their combat with
words."
Belisarius chuckled. "And who won?"