"Lackey, Mercedes - Born To Run" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lackey Mercedes)
But strangely, Keighvin didn't look the least bit angry УAye, Sam, we steal children. The Seleighe Court does, at any rate. To save them. Children bein' beaten within an inch of their lives, children bein' left cold and hungry and tied t' the bedpost all day, children bein' sold and slaved.а.а.а. Oh aye, we steal children. Whenever we can, whenever we know of one in danger of losing life or soul, or heart, and we can get at them, aye, we steal them.Ф Keighvin's expression was dark, brooding. УWe used to do other things, too. There are some problems, Sam, that can be fixed by throwing money at them, as you yourself were thinking earlier. Not all of those problems are technical, either. Do you mind some of the other stories your granny used to tell? About the leprechauns, or the mysterious strangers who gave gold where it was most needed?Ф
УAye,Ф Sam replied, again falling into the brogue of his childhood, to match the lilt of Keighvin's speech. УBut those strangers were the holy saints, or angels in disguise, sent from the Virgin, she saidЧФ
Keighvin snorted. УHoly saints? Is that what you mortal folk decided? Nay, Sam, 'twas us. At least, it was us when there were hungry children to feed, and naught to feed them with; when there was no fuel in the house, and children freezing. When some mortal fool sires children, but won't be a father to them, leaving the mother to struggle alone. Our kindЧwe don't bear as easily or often as you. Children are rare and precious things to us. We're impelled to protect and care for them, even when they aren't our own.Ф
Suddenly a great many of the old stories took on a whole new set of meanings.а.а.а. But Keighvin was continuing.
УThis isn't the old days, though, when a stranger could give a poor lass a handful of silver and gold in return for a kindness. For one thing, the girl would be thought a thief, like as not, when she tried to trade it for paper money. For another, someone would want to track down whoever gave it to her. We have to truly, legitimately, earn money before we can give it away.Ф
Tannim shook his head in mock sadness. УOh, now that's a real pity, isn't itЧyou elves having to work for a living. What's the world coming to?Ф
Keighvin cast the young man a sharp glance. УOne of these days, my lad, that tongue of yours is going to cast you into grief.Ф
Tannin chuckled, uncowed by the fire in Keighvin's eye. УYou're too late, it already has.Ф He turned to Sam. УThese boys can literally create anything, if they've studied it long enough beforehand. We've been making foamed aluminum engine blocks ever since Keighvin here got his hands on a sample from a Space Shuttle experiment.Ф He hopped back up onto his cabinet, crossing his legs like a Red Indian. УI'm not even going into how we got that. But, we've been using the stuff in our carsЧnow, can you imagine what we could charge some of the big boys to duplicate their designs in foamed cast aluminum?Ф
Indeed, Sam could. And the major racing teams had a great deal of money to play with. УSo that's why you set up this shop, Fairgrove IndustriesЧbut what do you need me for?Ф
УWe need a front-man,Ф Tannim said, leaning forward in his eagerness to explain himself. УWe need someone who can give a convincing explanation of how we're doing all this, and show us how to create a setup that will at least look like we're making the things by some esoteric process and not by magic.Ф
УBut there isn't any processЧФ Sam began. УThere isn't a firm in the world that could duplicateЧФ
Tannim waved a negatory hand in the air.
УIt doesn't matter if no one else can duplicate what we do,Ф he said blithely. УThey'll expect us to have trade secrets. We just need someone who knows all the right techno-babble, and can make it sound convincing. As long as you can come up with something that's possible in theory, that's all we need. We'll keep on buying machines that go bing, and you leak tech reports to the curious.Ф
Sam couldn't help himself; he started to laugh. Tannim and Keighvin both looked confused and surprised. УWhat's so funny?Ф Tannim asked.
УDo you know much science fiction?Ф he asked, through his chuckles. Keighvin shook his head. Tannim shrugged. УA little. Why?Ф
УBecause a very famous author, Arthur C. ClarkeЧwho also happens to be one of the world's finest scientists and engineersЧsaid once that technology that's complicated enough can't be told from magic.Ф
УSo?Ф Tannim replied.
Sam started laughing again. УSoЧsufficiently complex magic is indistinguishable from technology!Ф
Keighvin looked at Tannim for an explanation; the latter shrugged. УBeats me,Ф the young man said with a lopsided smile, as Sam wheezed with laughter. УSometimes I don't understand us either.Ф
It was nearly midnight when they'd gotten the basic shape of a plan hammered out. By then, they'd moved into Keighvin's officeЧa wonderful place with a huge, plate-glass window that looked out into what seemed to be an absolutely virgin glade. The office itself was designed to be an extension of the landscape outside, with plants standing and hanging everywhere, and even a tiny fountain with goldfish swimming in it.
УWell, I'm going to have to go home and sleep on this,Ф Sam said, finally. УThen get into some of the journals and see what kind of a convincing fake I can concoct before I can definitely say I'll take the job.Ф
He started to get up, but Keighvin waved him down again. УNot quite yet, Sam,Ф he said, his expression grave. УThere's just one thing more we need to tell you about. And you may decide not to throw in your lot with us after you've heard it.Ф
УWhy?Ф he asked, a little surprised.
Keighvin didn't smile. УSam, how much did your granny ever tell you about the Seleighe and Unseleighe Court elves?Ф
Sam had to think hard about that. Granny had died when he was barely ten; fifty-five years was a long time. And yet, her stories had been extraordinarily vivid, and had left him with lasting impressions.
УMostly, she told stories withЧI guess you'd sayЧgood elves and bad elves. Elves who wanted to help humans, at least, and elves who wanted only to hurt them. She said you really couldn't tell them apart, if you were a human childЧthat even human adults could be easily misled, and that sometimes even the good elves didn't know who was good and who was bad. She said the Unseleighe Court even had agents in the Seleighe Court. She just warned me to steer clear of both if I ever met either kind, until I was old enough to defend myself, and could tell a glib lie from the truth.Ф
Keighvin nodded, his hair beginning to escape from the pony-tail. УGood enough. And that fairly sums it up. There's the Seleighe CourtЧthat's us, and things like elvensteeds and dryads, selkies, pukas, owls, things that can pass as humans and things that never could. Oh, and there's creatures native to this side of the water that have allied themselves with the Seleighe Court as well. And for the most part, the very worst one of us wishes is that the humans would go away.Ф The Sidhe looked out into the forest beyond the glass, but Sam had the feeling he was seeing something else entirely. УFor the most part, we're interested in coexisting with your kind, even if it forces us to have to change. Many of us are interested in helping your kind. We have the power of magic, but you have the twin powers of technology and numbers. One on oneЧyou humans are no match for us. But population against populationЧwe've lost before we even start.Ф
УAll right,Ф Sam agreed. УI can see that. What about the Unseleighe Court?Ф
УThey hate you, one and all,Ф Keighvin replied, somberly. УThere are elves among them; and many, many things straight out of your worst childhood nightmares: bane-sidhe, boggles, trolls, things you've never heard of. The Morrigan is their Queen, and a terrible creature she is; she hates all things living, even her own people.Ф His eyes darkened with what looked to Sam like a distant echo of pain. УThey hate us, too, for wanting to coexist with you; they're constantly at war with us. They want you gone, and they're active in fostering anything that kills you off. If you run across a human conflict that seems senseless, often as not, they have a hand in it. Not that you humans aren't adept at creating misery for yourselves, but the Unseleighe Court has a vested interest in fostering that misery, and in propagating it. And they don't like the idea that Fairgrove is a little further along the path of easing some of it.Ф
УAll right so far,Ф Sam said, a little puzzled, Уbut what's that got to do with me?Ф
УWe have agents in their ranks, just as they have agents in ours,Ф Keighvin told him. УWe've gotten word that some of their lot that can pass as human have found out what we're planning, and are going to try to expose us as frauds.Ф
УIt'll be Preston Tucker all over again,Ф Tannim put in, his own expression grim. УWithout someone with a spotless reputation fronting for us, they can do it, too. They can claim we've stolen our samples, that the engine blocks aren't what we say they are, and that we have no real intention of manufacturing the products. It's happened enough times in this industry that people are likely to believe itЧespecially with a bit of glamorie behind their words and a strong publicity campaign. Your actions will be the saving of usЧas Keighvin's was of you and your father.Ф
УNo one's ever heard of us, except as a racing team,Ф Keighvin said, leaning forward in his chair; giving Sam all of his attention. УBut they know you. Your reputation can give us the time we need to actually build a few customers. Once we have that, it won't matter what they say. They'll have to come after us some other way. But there's the danger. They will. And not only us, but you.Ф
Oddly enough, the threat to himself didn't bother Sam. In fact, if anything, it added a little spice to the prospect. Terrorists and fanatics who threatened folk just because they were American frightened him; there was no predicting people like that, and there was something cold and impersonal about their enmity. Give him a real, honest enemy every time. You knew where you stood with a real enemy; you knew whose side you were on. After all, hating a country takes away its faces, but hating someone because of what he did was something he could get a grip on.
УTo tell you the truth,Ф Tannim put in, УI'd have been a lot more worried before I saw how you've got your home defenses rigged. Even a creature with magic is going to have trouble passing them. And once I add my two cents' worth, I think you'll be in fairly good shape to hold them off if you have to.Ф
УYour two cents' worth?Ф Sam asked quizzically. Tannim grinned and shruggedЧand Sam remembered the odd protections around the car. This Tannim might not be one of the Fair Folk, but there was no doubt he held his own in their company.
More of Sam's granny's lore was coming back to him. There was, surprisingly, a lot of it. And the things he remembered about the Unseleighe Court were unpleasant indeed, especially when it occurred to him that she had undoubtedly toned things down for his young ears. Now he wondered how much she hadn't told him, and how important that information was.
And where she had gotten it from. The УmissingФ brother, perhaps? He made a mental note to ask Keighvin about that some time.
StillЧhere was a chance to see things very few other humans had seen. A chance to be useful again. He'd retired only because he'd had no choice. He had enjoyed the first few weeks of his vacation, but truth to tell, he was getting bored. There were only so many things he could do to improve the house. He hated fishing. He could only watch so much television before feeling the urge to throw something at the tube.
УAll right,Ф he said. УI'll do it Full speed ahead, and damn the torpedoes. You've got your man.Ф
The little that remained of the evening passed in a blur. Tannim took him home againЧand this time did not treat him to a mini-race on the driveway. Neither of them said much, except to set a dinner meeting for that eveningЧsince it was already Уtomorrow,Ф being well past midnight.
Tannim waited until he was safely sealed inside his little fortress before driving off; he wasn't certain if that was a wise precaution, or real paranoia. Surely the Unseleighe Court denizens wouldn't already know he'd agreed to help Fairgrove?
Then again, this was magic he was dealing with; as unknown in its potentials as a new technology. Maybe they could know.
Thoreau was lying beside the door, patiently but obviously waiting for his promised treat. Sam headed for the kitchen and dished out a tiny portion of canned food. Thoreau didn't need extra pounds any more than a human did, and these late-night snacks were the only time he got canned food. The rest of the time, he had to make do with dry.
Thoreau was one of the more interesting dogs Sam had ever owned. Instead of greedily gobbling down his treat, he ate it slowly, licking it like a child trying to make an ice-cream cone last. Sam left him to it and went to his library in the office, but didn't immediately pull down some of the reference materials he'd mentally selected.
Instead, he sat with hands idly clasped on the desk for a long moment, wondering if, when he did go to bed, he'd wake up in the morning to find that all this had been a dream.
Something crackled in his jacket pocket as he took it off, and he found the envelope with the check in it still in his breast pocket.
| © 2025 Библиотека RealLib.org (support [a t] reallib.org) |