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

most common is that frightening phrase тАЬChampion EternalтАЭ ... Formerly I would have thought that
only a madman could think of himself as a demigod ...тАЩ
тАШI, too,тАЩ said Count Brass, pouring more wine for Hawkmoon. тАЬBut it is others who make their
heroes into demigods. Would that the world had no need for heroes.тАЩ
тАШA sane world will not need them.тАЩ
тАШBut perhaps a sane world is a world without humankind.тАЩ Count BrassтАЩs smile was bleak. тАШPerhaps
it is we who make it what it is?тАЩ
тАШIf an individual can make himself whole, so can our race,тАЩ said Hawkmoon. тАШIf I have Faith, Count
Brass, that is why I retain it.тАЩ
тАШI wish that I shared such Faith. I see Man as destined, ultimately, to self-destruction. All that I hope
for is that that destiny can be averted for as long as possible, that ManтАЩs most foolish actions can
be restrained, that a little equilibrium can be maintained.тАЩ
тАШEquilibrium. The idea symbolized by the Cosmic Balance, by the Runestaff. Have I told you that I
have come to doubt that philosophy? Have I told you that I have come to the conclusion that
equilibrium is not enough - not in the sense you mean? Equilibrium in an individual is a fine thing -
a balance between the needs of the mind and the needs of the body - maintained without self-
consciousness. Certainly, let us aim for that. But what of the world? Would we tame it too much?тАЩ
тАШYou have lost me, my friend.тАЩ Count Brass laughed. тАШI was never a cautious man, in the ordinary
sense of the word, but I became a weary one. Perhaps it is weariness which now informs your
thoughts?тАЩ
тАШIt is anger,тАЩ said Hawkmoon. тАШWe served the Runestaff. It cost us dear to serve it. Many died.
Many were tormented. We still know a terrible despair. And we were told that we could call on its
help when we needed it. Do we not need it now?тАЩ
тАШPerhaps we do not need it enough.тАЩ
HawkmoonтАЩs laugh was grim. тАШIf you are right, I do not look forward much to a future when we shall
need it enough!тАЩ
And then his head was filled by a revelation and he rushed to the window. But by now the figure
had left the road and entered the town and could not be seen. тАШI know that rider!тАЩ
There came a knock at the door. Hawkmoon went to it and flung it open.
And there he stood, tall and cocky and proud, with his hand on his hip and the heel of his other
hand resting on the pommel of his plain sword, a folded cloak over his right shoulder, his bonnet at
a tilt and a crooked grin on his red, raw face. It was the Orkneyman, the brother of the Warrior in
Jet and Gold. It was Orland Fank, Servant of the Runestaff.
тАШGood day to ye, Duke of Koln,тАЩ he said.
HawkmoonтАЩs brow was furrowed and his smile was bleak. тАШGood day to you, Master Fank. Do you
come asking favours?тАЩ
тАЬThe folk of Orkney ask nothing for nothing, Duke Dorian.тАЩ
тАШAnd the Runestaff - what does that ask?тАЩ
Orland Fank took a few paces into the room, Captain Vedla at his heels. He stood beside the fire
and warmed his hands at it, glancing about him. There was sardonic amusement in his eyes, as if
he relished their puzzlement.
тАШI thank ye for sending your emissary here with your invitation to guest at Castle Brass,тАЩ said Fank,
winking up at Vedla, who was disconcerted still. тАШI was not sure how yeтАЩd receive me.тАЩ
тАШYou were right to wonder, Master Fank.тАЩ HawkmoonтАЩs own expression matched FankтАЩs. тАШI seem to
remember something of an oath you swore, when we parted. Since then we have battled dangers
quite as momentous as those we fought in the service of the Runestaff - and the Runestaff has
been not one wit in evidence.тАЩ
Fank frowned. тАШAye, thatтАЩs true. But blame neither myself nor the staff for that. Those forces
affecting you and yours also affected the Runestaff. It is gone from this world, Hawkmoon of Kohl. I
have sought it in Amarehk, in Asiacommunista, in all the lands of this Earth. Then I heard rumours