"Larry Niven - Limits" - читать интересную книгу автора (Niven Larry)

"Let me tell you the way of it." Thone was not used to making business
judgments in his father's name. He looked down at his hands and said, "Most of
the gold you gave me, I had spent. I had spices and dried meat and vegetables
and pickle and the rest. Then a boat pulled in with sides of ox for sale. I
was wondering what I could sell, to buy some of that beef, when these two
found me at the dock."

"Was it you they were looking for?"

"I think so. The lady Durily is of the old Minterl nobility, judging by
her accent. Karskon speaks Minterl but he might be of the new nobility, the
invaders from Torov. Odd to find them together -- "

"You didn't trust them. Why did you deal with them?"

Thone smiled. "Their offer. The fame of Rordray's Attic has spread
throughout Minterl, so they say. They want a place to honeymoon; they had
married that same day. For two weeks' stay they offered...well, enough to buy
four sides of ox and enough left over to trade Strandhugger in on a larger
boat, large enough for the beef and two extra passengers."

"Where are they now? And where's the beef?"

"I told...eep. It's still aboard."

Rordray roared. "Anita!"

"I meant to tell Estrayle to do something about that, but it -- "

"Never mind, you've done well."

Anita came hurrying from the restaurant area. Rordray's wife resembled
her husband to some extent: big-boned, heavy, placid of disposition, carrying
her weight well. "What is it?"

"Set the boys to unloading the new boat. Four sides of beef. Get those
into the meatbox fast; they can take their time with the other goods."

She left, calling loudly for the boys. Rordray said, "The guests?"

"I gave them the two leeward rooms, as a suite."

"Good. Why don't you tell them dinner is being served? And then you can
have your own meal."
 The dining hall was a roar of voices, but when Rordray's guests appeared
the noise dropped markedly. Both were wearing court dress of a style which had
not yet reached the provinces. The man was imposing in black and silver, with
a figured silver patch over his right eye. The lady was eerily beautiful,
dressed in flowing sea-green, and a thumblength taller than her escort. They