"May, Julian - Galactic Milieu 3 - Magnificat" - читать интересную книгу автора (May Julian)

his body carved ivory adorned with sapphires.
Such is my Beloved, and such my friend.
And he says to me:

"Set me like a seal on your heart,
for love is strong as death
and jealousy relentless as hell.
The brilliance of love is a flash of fire,
aflame of the Lord himself:
this love that no flood can quench,
that no torrent can drown."

This is the Word of the Lord.

We all stood for the familiar Gospel According to John:

Jesus said to his disciples:

"As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.
Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments
you will remain in my love, just as I have kept
my Father's commandments and remain in his love.

"I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you
and your joy complete. This is my commandment:
Love one another, as I have loved you.
No persons have a greater love
than those who lay down their lives for their friends."

╟a ira, чa ira! Saint Jean le Dщsincarnщ, Sainte Dorothщe Masque-des-Diamants, priez pour nous.

The nuptial rite itself began. The witnessing attendants (including me) left their places and stood on either side of the bride and groom, who had joined hands. Malama draped the long strands of fragrant maile leaves around their necks. The priest made a little speech that began with "Dearly Beloved." Then Ti-Jean and Dorothщe began to pronounce their vows.
Marc said to me: NOW. The rings dammit! To me!
I proffered the pillow. Marc handed one ring to his brother and gave the other to the bride. Faintly, I heard the couple speaking.
"Dorothea, my wife, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity..."
"Jon, my husband, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity..."
Both of them prayed together. "Father of Light, you brought us together, you helped our love grow, and at this moment you are with us in a special way. We ask that you stay by our side in the days to come. Protect us from harm and give us courage to face whatever difficulties lie ahead of us."
I no longer heard them. Stupefied with fear, I had barricaded myself inside my own cranium. Like a robot, I went through the proper motions as the witnesses once again withdrew and the priest celebrated the Liturgy of the Eucharist with my wooden assistance. In my battened-down state all my farsenses were useless. Several times I attempted to peer over my shoulder at the marquee to see if the monster was still there, but my neck muscles refused to obey me.
After the consecration the bride and groom recited the Lord's Prayer and the priest delivered the nuptial blessing, ending with, "Let us offer each other the sign of peace and love."
Jack lifted Dorothщe's veil to kiss her.
I heard a soft gasp from the operants present, drowned almost instantly by the orchestra beginning "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring." The diamond mask was gone and the promise of the Song of Songs was fulfilled momentarily in the bride's face. Jack kissed Dorothщe on the lips, then lowered her veil again. Brother Duval, a nonoperant who had not been privy to the transfiguration, came forward beaming. He embraced the couple, shook hands with me, and went down to the seats to extend the sign of peace to the wedding party.
Marc (or somebody) made certain that I performed the rest of my altar-boy duties with precision. I even assisted the priest in giving communion to all the guests--exotics included. Weird, isn't it, that bread is the one foodstuff that all entities in the Galactic Milieu can extract nourishment from?
All entities with bodies, that is.
The mass was nearly over. Brother Duval blessed the bride and groom and all the people, who responded with loud applause. I was expecting a recessional march from the orchestra (and so was almost everyone else), but something entirely different was on tap. Ian Macdonald seemed to materialize out of nowhere, splendid and barbaric in his Highland garb, playing a rousing bagpipe tune from the "Orkney Wedding and Sunrise" by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. The big Caledonian led the recession with the priest close behind him, and then came Jack and Dorothщe. She had thrown her veil back and the lower part of her face was a blaze of diamonds. Malama and I followed the newlyweds. I had my little satin pillow clutched in one hand and a glassy smile on my chops.
Marc said: That wasn't so bad was it Uncle Rogi? I've farscanned the entire hotel grounds and there's no Hydra here. I know its mental signature and I'm absolutely positive.
I said: Did you try scanning out your Cousin Parnell?
No. But--
Fact is you don't even know Parni's adult sig! Nor your sister Maddy's for that matter. Last time you touched minds with them they were little kids now they're both Grand Masters maybe even paramount in some of their faculties like you and they're SAFE even from Dorothщe or Ti-Jean none of you can do an MP ident unless they combine in Hydra metaconcert and they're not stupid enough to do that anymore!
Marc said: Rogi you're acting like a nutcase there's no danger.
I laughed out loud.