"John Meaney - Blood and Verse" - читать интересную книгу автора (Meaney John)

тАЬWell, then.тАЭ Her smile dimples her face. тАЬAround the back, take any one you
like.тАЭ
 тАЬThanks. Is there anything special to see right now? Any interesting events
taking place?тАЭ

She gestures a holomap of Sherkalian City into being.

тАЬThe Travelling FayreтАЩs in ConvenorsтАЩ HallтАЭтАФshe indicates a tiny green
hemisphere on the mapтАФтАЭfor the next two ninedays. ThatтАЩs about all.тАЭ

So you donтАЩt know who I am.

тАЬIтАЩll make sure I see it. Thanks again.тАЭ

тАЬYouтАЩre very welcome.тАЭ

***

Outside, the waves are a little rougher than last тАШnightтАЩ, yet the rainfall is gentle,
a fine silver mist. In the distance, small low shapes, buildings, are just visible against
the waves.

Around the back, where the boardwalk curves inwards, seven
skimmerettesтАФpogos -are bobbing in a row. Each has a thick octagonal base, little
more than a metre wide, with a dark shiny covering. From it, a stubby pillar rises,
with a saddle on the top. Two pedals provide control. They look precariousтАФmore
than I expectedтАФbut IтАЩve ridden jestersтАЩ unicycles around the corridors at home. IтАЩll
keep my balance.

The one I pick has a nacreous base, dark-blue and black, matching the hotelтАЩs
roof-carapace. The pogo bobs beneath me, then thrums into life, rising centimetres
above the waves.

The locals donтАЩt know about the Royal visit.

Judging by the hotel-girlтАЩs ignorance, that is.

So no one will expect me to carry out my commission right here.

ItтАЩs appalling, that the locals donтАЩt hold the Way of Blood and Verse in
highest honour. Yet that may not be a bad thing: their grief upon the QueenтАЩs
sudden, unexpected death will form a vital part of my poemтАЩs denouement. And for
now, let me embrace anonymityтАФ

Water churns, and I let out a whoop as the pogo shoots forwards, splashing
rain and sea-spray in all directions.

Grey-swept, cloud-cloaked
 With saltspraywind upon my face: