"Michael Moorcock - Castle Brass 3 - The Quest for Tanelorn" - читать интересную книгу автора (Moorcock Michael)

Londra.тАЩ
Count BrassтАЩs ruddy features seemed to take on a deeper shade of colour, a blush. тАШShe
mentioned something of that. But she does not need me in Londra.тАЩ
тАШNot for your advice, certainly,тАЩ said Yisselda. тАШYour support... ? She was fond of men, once. But
with DтАЩAvercтАЩs terrible death - I have heard that she has had no thoughts of marrying. I have heard
that she has considered the question of an heir, but that there is only one man who could, in her
opinion, compare with Huillam DтАЩAverc. I speak clumsily...тАЩ
тАШIndeed you do, daughter. It is understandable, for your mind is full of other thoughts. I am touched,
however, by your willingness to concern yourself with my very minor affairs.тАЩ Count Brass smiled
and put his arm out to Yisselda. The brocade sleeve fell away to reveal his bronzed, heavily
muscled forearm, тАШBut I am too old to marry. If I planned marriage, certainly I could think of no
better wife than Flana. But the decision I made many years ago to live in virtual retirement in the
Kamarg remains. Besides, I have my duty to the folk of the Kamarg. Would I abandon that?тАЩ
тАШWe could take up that duty, as we did once when you were ...тАЩ She paused.
тАШDead?тАЩ Count Brass frowned. тАШI am grateful that I do not have such memories of you, Yisselda.
When I returned from Londra and found you here I was full of joy. I asked for no explanation. It was
enough that you lived. But then, I had seen you die at Londra some years before. It was a memory
I was happy to doubt. A memory of children, though - to be haunted by such ghosts, by the
knowledge that they are alive somewhere and afraid - Oh, that is terrifying!тАЩ
тАШIt is a familiar terror,тАЩ said Hawkmoon. тАШHopefully we shall find them. Hopefully they know nothing
of all this. Hopefully, in whatever other plane they now inhabit, they are happy.тАЩ
There came a knock on the door of Count BrassтАЩs study. He answered it in his gruff voice: тАШEnter.тАЩ
Captain Josef Vedla opened the door, closed it behind him and stood in silence for a moment. The
old soldier was clad in what he chose to call his civilian clothing - doeskin shirt, buckskin jerkin and
breeks, boots of old, black leather. At his belt was a long dirk, apparently there not for any
particular usefulness save to act as a familiar rest for his left hand. тАШThe ornithopter is almost
ready,тАЩ he said. тАШIt will take you to Karlye. The Silver Bridge is completed, rebuilt in all its old
beauty, and by means of it you may cross, Duke Dorian, as you wished, to deau-vere.тАЩ
тАШThank you, Captain Vedla. It will please me to make this journey from the Kamarg by the route I
used when I first came to Castle Brass.тАЩ
Her hand still in that of her father, Yisselda stretched her other hand out and took HawkmoonтАЩs.
Her steady eyes regarded his face and her grip tightened for a second on his fingers. He drew a
deep breath. тАЬThen we must go,тАЩ he said.
тАШThere was other news...тАЩ Josef Vedla hesitated.
тАШOther news?тАЩ
тАШOf a rider, sir. He has been seen by our guardians. We received a heliograph message a few
minutes ago. He comes towards the town...тАЭ
тАШHas he announced himself at our borders?тАЩ Count Brass asked.
тАШThat is what is strange, Count Brass. He was not seen at the borders. He was half-way into the
Kamarg before he was sighted.тАЩ
That is unusual. Our guardians are normally vigilant...тАЩ
тАЬThey are quite as vigilant today. He did not enter by any of the known roads.тАЩ
тАЬWell, doubtless weтАЩll have the opportunity of asking him how he avoided being seen,тАЩ said
Yisselda calmly. тАШAfter all, it is one rider, not an army.тАЩ
Hawkmoon laughed. For a moment they had all been over-worried. тАШHave him met, Captain Vedla.
Invite him to the castle.тАЩ
Vedla saluted and left.
Hawkmoon went to the window and looked over the roofs of Aigues-Mortes to the fields and
lagoons beyond the old town. The sky was a clear, pale blue and the distant water reflected it. A
light, winter wind was blowing at the reed beds. He saw a movement on the wide, white road that