"David Drake - General 03 - The Anvil" - читать интересную книгу автора (Drake David)

audible, and the sound rose to a new peak as Barholm embraced Raj once
more.
"There'll be a staff meeting right after all this play-acting," he said
into Raj's ear, his voice flat. "There's the campaign in the Western
Territories to plan."
He turned, and everyone bowed low as he withdrew through the private
entrance behind the Chair.
So passes the glory of this world, Raj thought. Death or victory, and
if victory --
observe, Center said. Holographic vision shimmered before his eyes,
invisible to any but himself:

***
It took a moment for Raj to recognize the naked man: it was himself,
his face contorted and slick with the burnt fluid of his own eyeballs,
after the irons had had their way with them. Thick leather straps held
his wrists and ankles splayed out in an X.
The hooded executioners were just fastening each limb to the pull-chain
of a yoke of oxen. The crowd beyond murmured, held back by a line of
leveled bayonets.



CHAPTER TWO

Governor Barholm stood while the servants stripped off his heavy robes.
The Negrin Room dated to the reign of Negrin III, three centuries
before; the walls were pale stone, traced over with delicate murals of
reeds and flying dactosauroids and waterfowl; there was only one small
Star, a token obeisance to religion as had been common in that impious
age. The heads of the Ministries were there, and Mihwel Berg as
Administrator of the newly-conquered Southern Territories and
representative of the Administrative Service; Chancellor Tzetzas, of
course; General Klostermann, Master of Soldiers, Bernardinho Rivadavia,
the Minister of Barbarians, and Lady Anne Clerett as well, the
Governors wife. She gave Raj a sincere smile as they waited for the
Governor to finish disrobing.
There's one real friend at court, he thought. Suzette's friend,
actually.
Barholm sat, and the others bowed and joined him.
"Well, messers," he said abruptly, opening the file an aide placed
before him. "It's time to deal with the Western Territories and the
barbarians of the Brigade who impiously hold the Old Residence,
original seat of the Civil Government of Holy Federation -- since
we've reduced the Southern Territories quite satisfactorily, thanks to
the aid of the Spirit of Man of the Stars, and Its Sword, General
Whitehall."
There was a murmur of applause, and Raj looked down at his hands. "I
had good troops and officers," he said.
"Your Supremacy," Tzetzas said. "We all give praise to the Spirit" --