"02 - Torment" - читать интересную книгу автора (McGough Scott)

main road that led to the city center and the Cabal seat of

power. Chainer thought the term "tavern" was actually too

generous. Roup's was a single room with a single door and a

single foul-tasting grog on the menu.

It was a welcome sight to Chainer, however. People

didn't come to Roup's for the fare or the decor or the

atmosphere. They came to be seen and heard at the very edge

of the Cabal's web of influence. Or, as in Chainer's case,

to escape from the Cabal's enemies.

"The Cabal is here," Chainer greeted Roup through

gritted teeth.

"And everywhere," Roup replied.

"I need your help, big brother."

"Ask, little brother, and I shall answer."

Chainer struggled to remain patient. Roup was

technically his superior, but there was a clingy

desperation to his manner that made Chainer's knife hand

itch. He was flabby and slow, and Chainer thought he

dressed like a molting parrot dunked in bile. Roup also

tried to make every conversation last as long as possible,

which made Chainer and everyone else try to cut them short.

It was the general opinion of Cabalists everywhere that

Roup deserved to be forgotten at the edge of the city. But

the Cabal was, in fact, everywhere, and Roup was the

Cabal's man in this sector. He also had the only means of