"David Drake - Belisarius 3 - Destiny's Shield" - читать интересную книгу автора (Drake David)

splintering of Greco-Roman civilization.
***
Justinian jerked erect in his chair.
"No more," he croaked. "I can bear it no longer."
He leaned forward and extended his arm, shakily. In the palm of his hand
rested a shimmering, glowing object. A jewel, some might have called it. A
magical gem.
Belisarius took the "jewel" from Justinian and replaced it in its pouch. A
moment later, the pouch was once again suspended from his neck.
The "jewel" spoke in his mind.
He is not a nice man.
Belisarius smiled crookedly.
No, Aide, he is not. But he can be a great man.
The crystalline being from the future exuded skepticism.
Not sure. Not a nice man, at all.
"Are you satisfied, Justinian?" Belisarius asked.
The former emperor nodded.
"Yes. It was everything you said. I almost wish, now, that I had never asked
for the experience. But I needed -- "
He made a vague motion with his hand, as if to summon up unknown words.
Belisarius provided them:
"You needed to know if your suspicions were warranted, or not. You needed to
know if the elevation of my stepson to the imperial throne stemmed from
motives of personal ambition and aggrandizement, or -- as I claimed at the
time -- from the needs of the war against the Malwa."
Justinian lowered his head. "I am a mistrustful man," he muttered. "It is
rooted in my nature." He opened his mouth to speak again. Clamped it shut.
"There is no need, Justinian," said Belisarius. "There is no need."
The general's smile grew more crooked still. He had had this conversation once
before, in a nightmare vision. "It would take you hours to say what you are
trying to say. It will not come easily to you, if at all."
Justinian shook his head. "No, Belisarius. There is a need. For my sake, if
not yours." Harshly: "I sometimes think losing my eyes improved my vision." He
took a deep breath. Another. Then, like a stone might bleed:
"I apologize."
The third occupant of the room chuckled. "Even in this," he said, "you are
still arrogant. Do you think you are the world's only sinner, Justinian? Or
simply its greatest?"
Justinian swiveled his head.
"I will ignore that remark," he said, with considerable dignity. "And are you
certain, Michael of Macedonia? Of this -- creature -- you call the Talisman of
God?"
"Quite certain," replied the stony voice of the monk. "It is a messenger sent
by the Lord to warn us all."
"Especially me," muttered Justinian. The blind man rubbed his mangled eye-
sockets. "Has Theodora -- ?"
"No," replied Belisarius. "I offered, once, but she declined. She said she
preferred to take the future as it comes, rather than seeing it in a vision."
"Good," stated Justinian. "She does not know about the cancer, then?"
It was Belisarius' turn to jerk erect in his chair, startled. "No. Good God! I