"Rachel Pollack - Immortal Snake" - читать интересную книгу автора (Pollack Rachel)

тАЬGreat Lord,тАЭ the slave said, тАЬI come from the Emperor of Mud and
Glory.тАЭ Immortal Snake smiled. The Land of Mud and Glory was a rival of
Written in the Sky, but even they could not deny him his gifts.

He said, тАЬAnd your name? Does your emperor allow you a name?тАЭ

тАЬGreat Lord, my name is Tribute of Angels.тАЭ

тАЬWonderful,тАЭ the ruler said. тАЬWeтАЩre making progress. Now. Tell me
what treasures you bring me from Mud and Glory.тАЭ

Tribute of Angels cast down his eyes. He said, тАЬI bring no treasure,
Great Lord. I myself am the gift.тАЭ

Snake half rose from his throne. тАЬA slave? Has he lost his imperial
mud mind? Would he like his cities filled with the Army of Heaven?тАЭ
 The minister touched the rulerтАЩs arm. тАЬLord,тАЭ he said, тАЬperhaps the
slave carries some treasure inside his body. The formula for gold written on
his bones, or a treaty hidden in his belly.тАЭ

But the slave shook his head. тАЬYour forgiveness, Great Lord. My body
contains nothing more precious than blood.тАЭ

The minister, fearful his ruler might order a slaveтАЩs blood poured out
onto the sacred floor, said quickly, тАЬThen some talent? Some wondrous
skill? What can you do, slave? What knowledge or power do you bring us?тАЭ

Tribute of Angels raised his eyes. Their dark light shone into the face
of the worldтАЩs most beloved and hated man. тАЬGreat Lord,тАЭ he said. тАЬI tell
stories.тАЭ

There was a long silence and then Immortal Snake laughed loudly.
тАЬStories!тАЭ he said. тАЬWonderful.тАЭ And then the Living World of Heaven
inserted an idea into his head. A joke. He turned to his minister and said,
тАЬYou want me to choose a companion? There. Tribute of Angels will be my
companion.тАЭ

тАЬLord!тАЭ Breath of Judgment cried. тАЬThe creature is a slave!тАЭ

тАЬAh, but he can tell stories. On those long boring nights when you and
all the others are off making lists, or whatever you do, my companion can
tell me a story.тАЭ He laughed again. тАЬWhat better companion can a snake
have than a storyteller?тАЭ

****

In the Land of Written in the Sky there was no recording of time.
Immortal Snake was the Living WorldтАЩs extension into the world of death, a
finger from the Great Above stroking the Great Below, and just as the Living