"China Mieville - The Scar" - читать интересную книгу автора (Mieville China)

When she had first introduced herself, Meriope had claimed that she was traveling to the colonies to
establish a church, to proselytize, for the glory of Darioch and Jabber. She had said it with a small sniff
and a furtive look, idiotically unconvincing. Bellis did not know why Meriope was being sent to Nova
Esperium, but it must have to do with some misfortune or disgrace, the transgression of some idiotic
nunnish vow.

She glanced at MeriopeтАЩs midriff, looking for swelling under those forgiving robes. That would be the
most likely explanation. The Daughters of Darioch were supposed to forego sensual pleasures.

I will not serve as replacement confessor for you,thought Bellis.I have my own bloody exile to work out.

тАЬSister,тАЭ she said, тАЬIтАЩm afraid you catch me at work. I have no time for pleasantries, I regret to say.
Perhaps another time.тАЭ She was irritated with herself for that last tiny concession, but it had no effect,
anyway. Meriope was broken.

тАЬThe captain wishes to see you,тАЭ the nun said, muffled and forlorn. тАЬHis cabin, at six oтАЩclock.тАЭ She
shuffled out of the door like a bullied dog.

Bellis sighed and swore quietly. She lit another cigarillo and smoked it right through, pinching the skin
above her nose hard, before pulling out her letter again.

тАЬI will go bloody mad,тАЭ she scribbled quickly, тАЬif this damned nun does not stop fawning and leave me
alone. Gods preserve me. Gods rot this damned boat.тАЭ


It was dark when Bellis obeyed the captainтАЩs summons.

His cabin was his office. It was small, and pleasantly outfitted in dark wood and brass. There were a few
pictures and prints on the walls, and Bellis glanced at them and knew that they were not the captainтАЩs,
that they came with the ship.

Captain Myzovic gestured her to sit.

тАЬMiss Coldwine,тАЭ he said as she settled herself. тАЬI hope your quarters are satisfactory. Your food? The
crew? Good good.тАЭ He looked down briefly at the papers on his desk. тАЬI wanted to raise a couple of
issues with you, Miss Coldwine,тАЭ he said, and sat back.

She waited, staring at him. He was a hard-faced, handsome man in his fifties. His uniform was clean and
pressed, which not all captainsтАЩ were. Bellis did not know whether it would be to her advantage to meet
his eyes calmly or demurely to look away.



file:///G|/eMule/Incoming/Mieville,%20China%20-%20Scar(Htm)/miev_0345454898_oeb_c01_r1.html (6 of 10)14-7-2004 2:34:19
 The Scar

тАЬMiss Coldwine, we havenтАЩt spoken very much about your duties,тАЭ he said quietly. тАЬI will do you the
courtesy, of course, of treating you like a lady. I must tell you IтАЩm not used to hiring those of your sex,