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

were conversation stoppers, and they knew it.

And here a man came hurrying to greet them, clapping his hands in
delight. "Lady Durily, Lord Karskon? I sin Rordray. Are your quarters
comfortable? Most of the middle floor is empty, we can offer a variety of
choices -- "

"Quite comfortable, thank you," Karskon said. Rordray had taken him by
surprise. Rumor said that Rordray was a were-lion. He was large, and his short
reddish-blond hair might be the color of a lion's mane; but Rordray was
balding on top, and smooth-shaven, and well-fed, with a round and happy face.
He looked far from ferocious-.

"Rondray! Bring 'em here!"

Rordray looked around, disconcerted. "I have an empty table in the
corner, but if you would prefer Merle's company...

The man who had called was tremendous. The huge platter before him bore
an entire swordfish fillet. Durily stared in what might have been awe or
admiration. "Merle, by all means! And can you be persuaded to join us?"

"I would be delighted." Rordray escorted them to the huge man's table
and seated them. "The swordfish is good -- "

"The swordfish is wonderful!" Merle boomed. He'd made amazing progress
with the half-swordfish while they were approaching. "It's baked with apricots
and slivered nuts and...something else, I can't tell. Rordray?"

"The nuts are soaked in a liqueur called brosa, from Rynildissen, and
dried in the oven."

"I'll try it," Karskon said, and Durily nodded. Rordray disappeared into
the kitchen.

The noise level was rising toward its previous pitch. Durily raised her
voice just high enough. "Most of you seem to be fishers. It must have been
hard for you after the merpeople went away."

"It was, Lady. They had to learn to catch their own fish instead of
trading. All the techniques had to be invented from scratch. They tell me they
tried magic at first. To breathe water, you know. Some of them drowned. Then
came fishing-spears, and special boats, and nets. -- "

"You said they?"

"I'm a whale," said Merle. "I came later."

"Oh. There aren't many were-folk around these days. Anywhere."