"Clayton Emery - Robin Hood's Treasure" - читать интересную книгу автора (Emery Clayton)

doublet and satin-lined cloak and new hose, all in the blue of
Nottingham, with the silver-antlered chain of office on his breast. His
matching hat had a short peacock feather that constantly intruded on his
side vision. The widow clung to his tails like a swarm of hornets. He
grabbed at his saddle pommel and jerked himself astride.
"Which way did they go, milady? I want to get after them as soon as
possible."
"Which way? I don't know! I had to flee! But they'll likely come this way,
so you go that way!"
The sheriff followed her finger. Through Sherwood Forest. Of course.
The widow raised her voice. "One hundred ten marks it was they got!
Almost all gold, except for the silver! Good Roman florins! There were
four of them -- don't you want to know how many? Sheriff, are you
listening?"
The sheriff was not listening. He rode as fast as his mount and sour
stomach would go.


"We could give more to the crippled ones that crawl in here on hands
and knees."
"And more to them little parish churches that have to give to the
bishops."
"And more to the orphans. We could do a lot more, Robin."
"A lot more with what?"
"Money!"
Robin Hood opened a sleepy eye and fixed it on his cousin.
Green-tinged shafts of light and silver birch pillars gave the greenwood
a cathedral air. The morning forest hummed with spring noise. They had
to raise their voices above bird song. "What would you do with more
money, Will?"
Will Scarlett intoned, "I would give it to the poor."
Everyone hooted.
"Then they wouldn't be poor no longer." Old Will Stutly recited the old
joke. "And we know what you'd do with it."
Scarlett laughed. "And what would I do with it?"
"You'd spend it on lust."
"And malmsey," added Little John.
"And you'd gamble the rest away," added Hard-Hitting Brand.
"And buy food," added Much. He'd been turning the deer on the spit
over the firepit.
"And he'd waste the rest," muttered Robin Hood. "Aren't you supposed
to be on watch, Brand?"
"This is more interesting."
"Must be powerful boring out there, then."
Will Scarlett nodded. "You're right. I'd spend the money on them things
and more. I'd spend it right."
"And that's wrong," Robin finished. He sat up straight and stretched his
arms. He scratched both armpits and then his beard. Robin had been up
since yesterday, visiting Marian who'd slipped out of the nunnery, and
they'd spent the night wandering the woods, gathering spring flowers,