"Paul McAuley - The Book of Confluence 01 - Child of the River" - читать интересную книгу автора (Mcauley Paul J)

"No one will come, " Yama said. "No one ever does any
more, except on high days."
"That's not the point. The avatars may have been silenced,
but the Preservers are still there."
"They will be there whether you light the candles or not.
Stay with me, Ananda. Forget your duties for once."
Ananda shrugged. "I happen to believe in my duties."
Yama said, "You are scared of the beating you will get
from Father Quine."
"Well, that's true, too. For a holy man, he has a fearsome
temper and a strong arm. You're lucky, Yama. The Aedile
is a kindly, scholarly man."
"If he is angry with me, he has Sergeant Rhodean beat
me. And if he learns that I have left the peel-house at night,
that is just what will happen. That is why I did not bring a
soldier with me."
"My father says that physical punishment is barbaric, "
Derev said.
"It is not so bad, " Yama said. "And at least you know
when it is over."
"The Aedile sent for Father Quine yesterday, " Ananda
said. He crammed the last of the ghostberries into his mouth
and got to his feet. Berry juice stained his lips; they looked




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black in the Galaxy's blue-white light.
Yama said unhappily, "My father is wondering what to
do with me. He has been talking. about finding a clerkship
for me in a safe corner of the department. I think that is why
Dr. Dismas went to Ys. But I do not want to be a clerk-1
would rather be a priest. At least I would get to see something
of the world."
"You're too old, " Ananda said equitably. "My parents
consecrated me a hundred days after my birth. And besides
being too old, you are also too full of sin. You spy on your
poor father, and steal."
"And sneak out after dark, " Derev said.
:'So has Ananda."
'But not to fornicate, " Ananda said. "Derev's father
knows that I'm here, so I'm as much a chaperon as any
soldier, although more easily bribed."
Derev said, "Oh, Ananda, we really are here to hunt for
frogs."
Ananda added, "And I will confess my sin tomorrow, before
the shrine."