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

I could hide the truth.

It is allowed, among the rulesтАФit just lacks elegance. This first time, for this
first death, everything should be perfect. And, this far from the Core Worlds, no one
will understandтАФ

тАЬMy homeworld is Calazzo IV, and I am of the Mazhin aтАЩStansa Corisma.тАЭ I
pause, then translate my oath-familyтАЩs name: тАЬHouse of the Crimson Stanza.тАЭ

The old manтАЩs eyes widen.

He knows.

Closing his eyes, the old man seems to shrink inwards, as though dreaming of
lost childhood ... or immersing himself deep in communication.

Then he is back in the moment.

тАЬThe machineтАЭтАФhe beckons the black mesodroneтАФтАЭwill show you to your
suite. Ask it for anything you require. We break our fast at oh-eight-hundred.тАЭ

тАЬMy thanks.тАЭ

тАЬYou areтАЭтАФwith a small bowтАФтАЭmost welcome, honoured guest.тАЭ

But his body language declares otherwise: it is more than old age which
stiffens his shoulders. I smile with genuine warmth; he looks a little puzzled.

Then I turn and follow the drone, which is already gliding down the
polished-wood corridor, leading me to my room.

IтАЩm offworld!

And truly an adult now. Or almost.

As soon as You die, my royal target, my beautiful obsession, whom I will
adore though I cannot truly love theeтАФ
 For with every poem, in every worthwhile piece of art, it is the tortured
beginning which brings pain and confusion to the one who calls it forth. The rest is
discipline.

And willingness to pay the price.

***

HereтАЩs the image: a grey-blue world, crowned with twin equatorial rings of
miniature suns; the occasional ripple above either pole where hidden singularities
refract the starlight; the distant glow of a hyperon star which was Quinv├иreтАЩs original,
natural sun.