"McCay, Bill - Stargate Rebellion" - читать интересную книгу автора (McCay Bill)

fighters, he certainly had strength to spare. Right now he looked as if
he was just barely restraining himself from using that strength to break
Thoth's arms and legs. Thoth kept his eyes on the prowling warrior. He
was reasonably sure that Sebek would not descend to the use of such
forceful expedients-at least, not yet. But Thoth had learned to keep an
eye on adversaries, even those courting his support. For that was what
all these skulking colloquies were about-on whose side would the
machinery of administration fall? "Several of Khnum's people died in a
set-to with some Horus guards serving Apis," Sebek said. "The Ram has
been pushing the Bull hard of late. He turned cold, shrewd eyes to
Thoth. "Not that I'm telling you anything. Your scribes make excellent
spies. I saw it often enough on Wefen. Ra seemed to know my secrets
almost as soon as I knew them." Sebek swerved in his prowling course to
confront Thoth. "But," he said, his voice dropping, "such a system can
work only if there is strength at the head. I'm sure you know many
things. But whom can you tell now?" Thoth said nothing. In truth, the
scribes had provided much useful intelligence for Ra. But now Ra was
gone, vanished for months after what was supposed to be a short voyage
and visit at the backwater world of Abydos. From all over Ra's compact
empire, warrior gods came by StarGate to Tuat-the-world and flew up to
Tuat-the-moon-for Ra never allowed Star Gate access to his personal
sanctum. And on a moonlet where Thoth had once enjoyed a position as
second after Ra-as chief administrator-warriors and viceroys now jostled
one another, their servants testing the aggressiveness and resolution of
other factions. Predators all, they had been held in check because Ra
had culled the pack. But now it seemed more and more evident that Ra
was no more. The warriors' minds turned naturally to calculations of
succession. And for the more thoughtful minority such as Sebek and a
few others-those calculations went beyond quantifying the number of
available bodies and the tally of blast-lances those bodies could use.
"You could choose worse to back than me," Sebek went on. "We ate at the
same table as boys-served Him together." Throughout this talk, Thoth
realized, Sebek had never mentioned Ra by name. The warrior's voice
dropped to a whisper. "I remember how you dreaded it whenever you
displeased Him-how you feared the punishment He might mete out." Sebek
speared his old mate with cold eyes. "Think what punishment I'm capable
of. And if you won't serve me for old affection's sake-then fear me!"
He turned and left Thoth alone in the hall. Raising his eyes again,
Thoth studied the pitiless stars. Trust Sebek to issue the most direct
offer and to couch it as a threat. Certainly, there were worse
candidates for the place of power. Sebek could field a sufficient force
to seize the prize. But even with Thoth behind him, could Sebekcould any
of the would-be successors-retain power in the face of resistance from
the other contenders? Or would the battering of the warriors destroy
the prize? Shatter the irreplacable mechanical and human gears that
allowed the empire to function? Not to mention that backing the wrong
aspirant could get Thoth killed. If Anubis was amongst them, a fighter
of such proven ferocity that the pack could be curbed ... But Anubis had
gone with Ra. No comparable warrior walked the halls of Tuat. Unless
Thoth resolved on a far more dangerous gamble. He had to decide soon,