"Jerry Pournelle - 02 - Clan and Crown" - читать интересную книгу автора (Pournelle Jerry)

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humanity, but the thought held little impact for him. Tran was home enough.
The light of the Firestealer was more than bright enough to see by, but it made for
tricky light, and cast strange shadows. But yes, there was a large party riding up to
the south gate of the town. тАЬMerchants, IтАЩd say,тАЭ Ganton muttered.
тАЬDoubtless. From the southern cities, by their clothes. What would they be doing
here?тАЭ
тАЬCome to make obeisance to me,тАЭ Ganton said. He chuckled.
тАЬIt may be,тАЭ Morrone said. He sounded very se-rious.
Ganton laughed aloud. тАЬThe southern cities would sooner give up their gods than
their councils and as-semblies and meeting halls. What could they possibly gain?тАЭ
тАЬLord RickтАЩs protection,тАЭ Morrone said.
And once again that tone, Ganton thought.
тАЬCaravan ho!тАЭ The guardтАЩs challenge faintly reached their high perch.
тАЬTheyтАЩre too late,тАЭ Morrone said. тАЬThe gates are locked for the night. But surely
they know that.
Someone in the caravan shouted to the sentries. Ganton couldnтАЩt hear what was
said, but it seemed to cause a stir. тАЬOfficer of the day!тАЭ the sentry shouted.
Ganton frowned in puzzlement and looked at his friend. тАЬWhat do you see?тАЭ he
asked. тАЬWho could cause such excitement?тАЭ
Morrone shook his head. тАЬI canтАЩt make it out.тАЭ
тАЬThe starmen have tools to see with,тАЭ Ganton said. тАЬThey call them binoculars.тАЭ
He said the unfamiliar word gingerly. тАЬBinoculars.тАЭ
тАЬYou should have them,тАЭ Morrone said.
Ganton shrugged. тАЬWhose? They are the personal equipment of the starmen, and
there are no more than a dozen of thoseтАФbinocularsтАФin all this world of Tran.
How should I have them?тАЭ
тАЬYou are Wanax!тАЭ Morrone said. тАЬThese starmen are not great lords. The Lord
Rick himself is no more than Eqeta of Chelm. Aye, and that only through his
wifeтАЩs first husband. Ach. The Eqetassa Tylara no more deserves that title than I
do. Less, for I was cousin to the last Eqeta, and she no more than his unbedded
wife.тАЭ
Ganton stared in amazement. He had heard com-plaints before, but none so open.
тАЬYet when you speak of the Lord Rick,тАЭ Ganton said. тАЬYour voice. You speak of
him as you would ofтАФof Yatar.тАЭ

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тАЬYour pardon, Majesty. I spoke in hasteтАФтАЭ
тАЬYou will not do this to me!тАЭ Ganton shouted. тАЬFinish what you have begun.
What is this you say? If you have complaints against the Lord Rick, say them
now. Speak to me as friendтАФтАЭ
тАЬI say no more than do hundreds of your loyal nobility,тАЭ Morrone said. тАЬWe
respect the Lord Rick, and we would follow him-but we fear his upstart family.
We fear they will bring their kilted barbarians to Drantos by scores.тАЭ