"Paul Park - Starbridge 03 - The Cult of Loving Kindness" - читать интересную книгу автора (Park Paul)

тАЬPlease sit down,тАЭ said the deputy administrator. He indicated a wooden stool and the smuggler sank
onto it, his knees spread apart. His fat face held no expression. His hair, plentiful upon his neck and
hands, was thin on top. His scalp was slick with perspiration.

Next to the pile of medallions a small statue was lying on its side. It was the second part of the smugglerтАЩs
consignment; the deputy administrator lifted it in both hands and set it upright underneath the lamp.
Though only nine inches tall it weighed several pounds, a copper statue of St. Abu Starbridge standing
erect, his hand held out in front of him. The tattoo on his palm was inlaid with a plug of solid gold.

The deputy administrator was a judge of craftsmanship. He ran his fingers over the folds of the saintтАЩs
copper cloak, admiring the work. тАЬJon Blox,тАЭ he said. With his left hand he turned over the pages of the
smugglerтАЩs passport.

The man nodded. A mosquito had landed on the crown of his head. The deputy administrator watched it
drink, and swell with blood, and drift away.

тАЬDo you have anything to tell me?тАЭ he asked. тАЬYou must admit youтАЩre in an intricate position.тАЭ

The smuggler stared at him briefly and then turned his head. He looked out over the wooden balustrade.
Something was scrabbling in the bush on the other side of the yard. After a moment a badger waddled
onto the perimeter and pressed its naked face against the fence.

The deputy administrator rubbed his eyes. These devotees were hard to break, for they were buttressed
in their faith by the example of their saint, who never spoke to his tormentors even when the fire was
around his feet. тАЬYou could make this simpler for yourself,тАЭ he said. тАЬSimpler and more complex. But as
it is, you have neglected to fill out any of the proper forms. These items, though proscribed for the general
public, nevertheless may have legitimate artistic and educational uses. I have seen a statuette just like this
in the cultural museum in Charn.тАЭ

A tremor of interest passed over the smugglerтАЩs face. He turned back toward the light. His voice was
lowтАФтАЬWhat do you mean?тАЭ

тАЬI mean that thereтАЩs no reason for despair. This case may be more complicated than you understand.тАЭ

He had the manтАЩs attention now. The soft pucker of a frown appeared between the smugglerтАЩs brows.
тАЬWhat do you mean?тАЭ he asked again.

The deputy administrator took a paper from his desk. He read a few lines from the back of it and then
looked up. тАЬYou are accused of smuggling these items of religious contraband,тАЭ he said, indicating the
pile of medallions and the statue of the saint. тАЬBut perhaps we might consider entering a lesser charge,
under the right circumstances. For example,тАЭ he continued, тАЬCustoms Regulation 412ao forbids the
export of all artifacts without a license from the Bureau of Antiquities. If you prefer, Regulation 6161j
forbids the use of precious metals in the decorative arts. It is a question of a modest fine.тАЭ
The smuggler shook his head. тАЬI know the penalty for what IтАЩve done.тАЭ

тАЬIтАЩm suggesting you may not. Your offense may be more trivial than you suppose.тАЭ

Five wooden steps descended to the yard from the veranda of the customs shed. Two soldiers slouched
on these, their backs to the administrator. Occasionally as they turned their heads, he could see the glow
of their marijuana cigarettes and catch flickers of their conversation. Now one got up. He ambled over to