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

He gave the last title in
English. тАЬWe are Benjamin Murphy do Dirstval and Lafferty Reznick do Bathis,
Merchant Traders of the
Sun Lands.тАЭ
тАЬThe Lord Rick is here and awaits you eagerly,тАЭ the chamberlain said. тАЬHe has
been foretold of your coming. He bade me say that his food will be no more than
filling for his belly, and his drink no more than moisture for the tongue, until he
has spoken with you at last.тАЭ
тАЬFat chance the captain ever said that,тАЭ Murphy said sotto voce. тАЬBid the Wanax,
and the Lord Pro-tector, and Lord Rick a thousand thanks in our names, and tell
him that we came in haste to his summons.тАЭ
There was more ceremony before they were in-vited to dismount. Eventually they
were led into an antechamber. A cheerful fire blazed at one end of the room, and
there was a table laid out with wine and food. Washbasins stood on a sideboard. тАЬI
will leave you to refresh yourselves,тАЭ their escort said. He turned a pair of
identical sand glasses, and took one with him. тАЬI will return when this is done.тАЭ
The chamber-lain bowed and left them.
The women began to chatter, but Murphy made a sharp gesture, and they fell
quiet. He eyed the glass. тАЬAbout twenty minutes. We going to take the women in
with us?тАЭ
тАЬWhy not?тАЭ Reznick demanded.
Murphy shrugged. тАЬThis is royalist country,тАЭ he said. тАЬNot like the south where
we were. And the girls arenтАЩt exactly out of the nobility-тАЭ
тАЬDirdre and Marva are now,тАЭ Reznick said. тАЬMar-ried me, didnтАЩt they? That
makes them as good as anybody.тАЭ
тАЬOkay if you say so. Wonder where the bloody plumbing is?тАЭ
тАЬThrough there, IтАЩd say,тАЭ Reznick said. He walked over to a small curtained
doorway and looked inside. тАЬYep. Looks to me like it hangs out over the
town. Shall we go relieve ourselves on the commoners?тАЭ


тАЬCapтАЩn?тАЭ
Rick Galloway turned from the window as one of the skyrockets burst in crimson.

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тАЬYes?тАЭ
тАЬTwo things,тАЭ Art Mason said. тАЬLady Tylara says youтАЩre supposed to be
downstairs enjoying the fire-works-тАЭ
тАЬHell, I know that,тАЭ Rick said. He lifted a crystal goblet and tossed off the full cup
of wine it held. тАЬThree days weтАЩve been on display. Tylara likes all the fuss.тАЭ He
grinned slightly. тАЬIsobel really is a beau-tiful little thing. I guess TylaraтАЩs earned
all this glory. But why she wants it is beyond me.тАЭ He poured an-other drink.
Mason shrugged. тАЬI never claimed to understand women.тАЭ
тАЬWhat was the other thing?тАЭ
тАЬMurphyтАЩs here.тАЭ
тАЬMurphy?тАЭ
тАЬPrivate Ben Murphy,тАЭ Mason said. тАЬAlong with Lafe Reznick. Two of the troops