"Zohra Greenhalgh - Tricksters Touch" - читать интересную книгу автора (Greenhalgh Zohra)

been Rimble's lover recently, was dressed in a brightly colored patchwork
quilt, her gray hair tumbling free from its habitual, elegant bun. Under the
quilt, Eldest wore loose mix-matched clothing. No one had ever seen Eldest
attired in this fashion. It had been the silent conclu-sion at the table that
Rimble's lovemaking had influenced the Greatkin of Civilization. Everyone
hoped this influence would pass. It had been a great relief to some that
the place cards on the table had been arranged in such a manner that sat
Rimble next to Love and Imagination instead of Greatkin Themyth. The
seating arrangements had been Themyth's idea. Bedding Rimble was one
thing. Sitting next to him for a nine-course dinner was quite another.
Making love with Trickster would give all the civilizations in all the known
universes a small jolt; anything more extended might cause unwanted
anarchy. Mattermat hit the table with his fist. "Do something, Eldest!" Fruit
rolled out of a silver cornucopia and teetered on the table's edge.

Earthquakes abounded throughout creation.

"Mattie, dear, be careful," said Themyth as she deftly caught the fruit
before it hit the floor. She replaced the apple and peach gently.

But Mattermat would not be calmed. "I want him stopped! I want him
contained! I want him out of this council!"

Eldest grabbed the wooden cane that rested against her chair and thwacked
it against the wooden floor. The sound resembled that of a very loud and
very uncompromising thunderclap. Everyone jumped, including Rimble.
Startled for the moment, Trickster broke off his litany for change.

"Now," said Themyth with great dignity, "we'll have no more of that at this
table. From either of you. Clear?"

Neither Mattermat nor Rimble said anything.

Eldest eyed both brothers coolly. Turning again to Rim-ble, she studied his
rather wild appearance. Rimble had painted his bare torso with yellow and
black diagonals during the break between the fourth and fifth courses. He
had pulled on fur pants made of the skin of coyotes and hung several gourd
rattles from a braided belt. Incongru-ously, Rimble wore a black bow tie
around his neck. Eldest cleared her throat. "Do you promise to leave
Mattie's things alone for the rest of dinner?"

As if on cue, Trickster jumped on his chair, let out a bloodcurdling shriek,
and yelled, "I don't have to stay here!"

When Jinndaven had recovered from Rimble's shout, he wiped his brow with
a lavender handkerchief several times and said, "I knew this was coming. I
just knew it. O sweet Presence preserve usтАФ"

Eldest peered at Rimble. "Explain."