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

Dismas and Gestas walked along Exchange Street, a wide cobbled
thoroughfare that paralleled the reeking barns, slaughterhouses, and tanneries lining
the Grain Quays along the western bank of the Uffratte. In that part of town, smiths
and metalwrights kept company among the barraters, clowns and jossmen who lived
off the excess funds spilling from the pockets of ranchers come to market. To be a
smith in Port Edward, or any town on the world of Gol Goth, was an occupation
fraught with risk and dubious practices. The Children forbade the working of ferrous
metal. By extension, even necessary metalwork in brass or copper was suspect.

тАЬAhasuerus, under the sign of the hoop,тАЭ said Gestas. тАЬMy inquiries led to
him as most likely to assist our cause.тАЭ

тАЬWhere is the sign of the hoop, then?тАЭ Tapping his cane on the cobbles,
Dismas scanned Exchange Street, looking across the milling crowds of tradesmen
and drovers with their cattle, pigs, and native buffalo. The tall aniline hats of the two
gentlemen marked them out from the crowd, which swirled around them without ever
brushing too close. Dismas kept his free hand on his sword hilt, wary of cutpurses.

тАЬBehind the Martinelli Grangery, I believe,тАЭ said Gestas. He paused by a great
barn that had once been painted white, then stepped beyond it into a narrow alley
backed on the other side by the dressed-stone wall of a public house.

Dismas followed Gestas down a meandering cleared path in the alleyтАЩs center,
saying, тАЬI am confident that you know your way, but still you surprise me.тАЭ

Gestas picked his way along. тАЬThat is our bargain. You keep us in funds, I
keep us informed.тАЭ

Past the back of the public house, a corroded hoop stuck out above a thick
door in a smaller, older wall. This second building was made from fired brick, in the
style of the First Emigration, and ran the remaining length of the alley to where a
wooden stairwell debouched to the dark waters of the Uffratte.

Dismas reached up with his cane and tapped the hoop, which was mounted so
high that even at full stretch he could barely reach it. The hoop rang metal on metal,
and a small shower of rust scaled from it.
 тАЬTrue iron, openly displayed,тАЭ he whispered. тАЬGestas, you have brought us to
the right place. Here is a man unafraid.тАЭ

Gestas nodded at the river stairs. тАЬHere is a man with a quick exit as well, you
might note.тАЭ

тАЬIs there a protocol, secret words?тАЭ

тАЬKnock, I was told, and speak with as much honesty as we can bear.тАЭ

Dismas swept back his cloak and hammered on the smithтАЩs door with the
brass tip of his cane. He bellowed in time with his thumping, тАЬArise, sir Ahasuerus,
two gentlemen desire your company!тАЭ