"Jay Lake - Into the Gardens of Sweet Night" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lake Jay)

тАЬAnimals.тАЭ Elroy shot a sidelong glance at the pug. тАЬI am thinking about Animals."

The pug sidestepped away, disappointment flashed in his canine eyes. His tail drooped. тАЬI did not pay for
an insult, friend."

тАЬYou neither bought my friendship with a Justiciary penny, stranger,тАЭ snapped Elroy. тАЬBut I won't insult
you. I said Animals, not beasts."

тАЬYour thoughts, then?тАЭ The pug growled and narrowed its eyes.

Elroy could see the pug's hackles rise above the collar of its waistcoat. He sighed, regretful for having
mishandled the situation so quickly. тАЬWhat is servant to a mounted man, peer to a footed man, and
master to a legless man?"

The pug's hackles dropped back below its flowered collar. тАЬA poor riddle, as you already gave me the
answer. Scarcely worthy of my investment."

Elroy slowed, stepping to the roadside next to a weathered sign that read тАЬNew Dallas 82 klmtr.s, Fresh
Fruit next Left."

тАЬMy deepest apologies, gentle pug.тАЭ Elroy recalled his school days and the whippings he routinely
received from Master Stenslaw for inattention the finer points of law and social custom. тАЬI am rarely
approached under the terms of the Mutual Contract, and am unversed. I intended no offense."

тАЬNone taken, I'm sure,тАЭ muttered the pug.

тАЬEnough, then.тАЭ Elroy smiled. тАЬI stop to dine. It's poor fare I have, but I offer it freely."

The pug laughed, a strangled bark. Its tail flickered again. тАЬI like generosity in the young. They are usually
too callow to comprehend the value of a gift freely given. Let us instead repair to the fruit vendor ahead.
In recognition of your kind offer to share your food, I will stand us a pair of kumquats, or whatever else
they might have that suits."
****
A Dinner of Fruit in the Rainforests of Texas

тАЬWell, you're a couple of likely lads.тАЭ The old woman at the fruit stand smiled a gap-toothed smile.

тАЬI am hardly a lad, good woman. Do not mistake my size for youth.тАЭ The pug drummed its claws on the
edge of the old woman's table. тАЬWe will have two kumquats, and a liter of wine fit for consumption."

тАЬNo kumquats today. Guavas three for a New Dallas dollar, I'm out of wine but you can have sweet
plum jack two NewDees a liter,тАЭ she recited in a bored voice.

тАЬTwo Justies for the guavas and the plum jack,тАЭ the pug countered.

тАЬThree."

They bargained in a desultory manner, settling on two Justiciary pennies and a New Dallas dollar, which
the pug handed over from the pocket of its waistcoat.