"Jay Lake - To Live Forever" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lake Jay)

тАЬAnd from your iron we will forge steps to return us to the stars,тАЭ whispered
Gestas.

****

Gestas walked like the gentleman he was, tall and proud in his aniline
stovepipe hat and great cloak, breaking his stride for no one. Longines, small,
dark-complected, scurried beside Gestas to glower at onlookers with some help
from Ahasuerus. Gestas kept his copper-clad hand hidden from view under the
black cloak. The Child trap lurked in his palm, a malevolent metal spider barely
caged by the strength of GestasтАЩ fingers.

тАЬYou have had the design for two centuries, Ahasuerus. Did you never build
one before?тАЭ

Longines glared at Gestas. The manservantтАЩs face twitched, a sign of nerves
or distress.

Speaking quietly, Ahasuerus ignored the warning. тАЬThat is not the way of
things. Weapons, like coins, have a transcendent meaning of their own. A knife will
be drawn, if you take my meaning. We were never ready before, so I never made
one. I am not sure we are ready now, but the time must come someday and I am a
tired man.тАЭ He waved his fist at a bullock driver. тАЬYou, mudfoot! Get those Lost
cattle out of the gentlemanтАЩs path!тАЭ

Longines spoke, his voice rough. тАЬIf you value our safety, silence on these
matters. We will be in trouble enough before long.тАЭ

They walked down the boardwalk that lined Settlement Avenue, toward the
fare docks and the west bank station of the River Watch. Jostling herds and
rumbling wains gave way to lines of people, filing up from the river ferries, filing
down to the river ferries, passing through Port Edward to seek or lose their fortunes.
The backcountry swallowed most of the broken poor eventually. Gestas thanked the
luck that had set him on another path when the Children had first released him to
consciousness.

тАЬThis way,тАЭ hissed Longines. He limped slightly as he led them into an alley.

тАЬAre you hurt?тАЭ asked Gestas quietly.

тАЬA fall chasing intruders on the manor grounds. Silence now.тАЭ

They skulked down a narrow alley with clapboard buildings on both sides. It
ran parallel to the Uffratte, but Longines pushed through a rotted fence into a midden
on the river side, carefully replacing the boards behind Ahasuerus and Gestas.

Gestas covered a choking cough with his free hand. The stench was dense
and foul.