"Paul McAuley - The Book of Confluence 02 - Ancients of Days" - читать интересную книгу автора (Mcauley Paul J)

divination, in which signs were scried in the client's physiognomy, as in metascopy or
chiromancy, or in the landscape, or in dust cast on a mirror (Syle said that gold was best, but the
finings of any metal were better than ordinary dust or the husks of rice grains used by village
witches). The form most often performed by the Department was rhabdomancy, or dowsing, used
to find lost property or to find the best place for the site of a house or to locate a hidden spring.
Finally, there was true foresight obtained through visions, either in dreams or in waking trances.
It was the most difficult and most powerful method of all, and it was by custom what the
pythonesses would attempt in two days' time at the public inquisition, although these days most
clients wanted answers to trivial questions, to find things that were lost or hidden (wills were a
perennial favorite, for many slighted by the wishes of rich, dead relatives came to believe that,
hidden somewhere, there was a true will which would favor them), to speak with the dead, or to
gain assurance of the success of a new business or a marriage.
The problem was that, as Syle put it, the business of the future was a thing of the past. The
ordinary citizens of Ys would believe a roadside cartomancer as readily as the pythonesses of the
Department of Vaticination, and other departments no longer called upon its services when
planning their business.
"Syle wants to ask you something," Rega told Yama. "Be good enough to humor him."
"This is not the place," her husband told her. "We will be able to say anything we like soon
enough. Don't do anything to ruin it."
Rega gave her husband a cold look, but allowed him to kiss her on her forehead before she
took her leave.
As Syle steered him toward the broad stair at the far end of the hall, Yama said, "Where are
we going?"
Thralls made way for them. Pandaras had disappeared, no doubt in pursuit of another
amatory conquest.
"I have something to show you," Syle said. He had the tentative touch of an old man,
although he was not much more than twice Yama's age, and much younger than his wife. "I
promise not to keep you long. Is your wound healing? You should let brother Apothecary attend
to it."
 "Tamora said that the dressing should not be disturbed," Yama said. "Besides, it is mostly
bruising."
He had been embarrassed in the brief fight. The ruffians had rushed up from behind as
Tamora, Pandaras, and Yama had climbed toward the Gate of Double Glory. One had struck
Yama with the flat of a blade; dazed and half-blinded by blood, Yama had saved himself with a
lucky swipe that had hit his opponent's sword-hand, severing two fingers and causing the man to
drop his weapon. By the time Yama had wiped blood from his eyes, Tamora had killed three of
the ruffians and the two survivors had fled, with Pandaras chasing after them and screaming
insults.
"We have lodged a protest with the Department of Internal Harmony over the incident," Syle
said. "If it is successful, then we may move on to a formal hearing. Unfortunately, the petition of
protest must be read and approved by a clerk of court in the first instance, and then a committee
will be deputized to discuss it. That may take no more than fifty or sixty days if the business is
rushed, but I do not suppose it will be rushed. Nothing ever is rushed in the Palace, but of course
that is only proper. These are serious matters, and must be taken seriously. After that, well, the
process of establishing a hearing usually takes at least two years."
"And in twelve days the ultimatum delivered by the Department of Indigenous Affairs will
expire."
Syle said, "Yes, but I have faith in you, Yama."
Yama had learned a little of the art of diplomacy from his stepfather, the Aedile of Aeolis.
Nothing must be said directly; to ask a question is to lose advantage. He said, "I have never been