"L. E. Modesitt - Corean Chronicles 4 - Alector's Choice" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

locks would go. In Faitel, only day laborers, small farm holders,
peasants--all usually indigens--or students-- generally landers from the
skilled crafting or larger land-holding families--had long hair.

"The fowl will be ready in just a bit." Aelya announced from the
archway, smiling at her husband, and their sons. "Try to leave the grapes
alone, Mykel."

"I'm trying."

"You always were." His mother smiled broadly before disappearing into
the house.

Mykel blotted his forehead with the back of his hand. Early harvest was
hot in Faitel and even warmer in Elcien, unless the westerlies blew hard off
the ocean for several days straight.

"You have to go back on Londi, don't you?" asked Olent.

"I have to be back before midnight on Decdi. I'll leave on the early
coach." That wasn't quite true, because Mykel really had until muster on
Londi morning, but he wasn't about to wait until the very last moment.

All the same, Mykel found it hard to believe that sixteen days of his
two-week leave were already over, and that he just had three more
nights--and two full days--before he had to head back on his return to
duty. He was fortunate that he was stationed outside Elcien, just seventy
vingts from home.

"Will you get more leave when you become an overcap-tain?" asked
Viencet.

"//" I ever make overcaptain. No. All officers get four weeks leave in a
year, and that's only when we're in quarters. There's no leave when we're
deployed."

"I can't see being a Cadmian, or even a city patroller," offered Viencet.
"I wasn't very good in the basic physical training. Not like you."

"It's not just physical." Mykel replied, trying to keep his voice even.
Why did so many people, even his brother, think that Cadmians were all
muscle?

"No. You also have to believe in things, like why you can't cut too many
trees, or plant too many of the same crops, or use wood when stone or
steel will do--"

"Viencet..." Olent drew out his younger son's name. "There are good
reasons for those."