"Melanie Rawn - Salve Regina" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rawn Melanie)

"YouтАФ" He choked on the rest, and stood back from her. "Berthilde,
where did you find this water?"

"I will tell you everything, but first you must drink. You are not well, I
can see the fever beginning in your face. Drink, P├иre Jerome. Please."

He cupped a handful of water, sniffed it warily, but did not drink. "Tell
me where you have found fresh water in this blighted land, and then I will
decide whether or not to drink."

So she told him of the forest, of the stream, of the Blessed Lady, of the
water, of the apple tree. All the while the precious water dribbled between
his fingers onto the stones. His dark eyes grew darker, and grim. At last,
when she was finished, he crossed himself and murmured many of the
Holy Words she did not understand.

Fixing her with a stern, worried gaze, he said, "Berthilde, there are
things I wish to make clear in my mind. Questions I wish you to answer.
Will you do this?"

"Of course, P├иre Jerome!"
 "This woman you say you saw. Was she wearing a blue mantle?"

"No. She was dressed all in glowing whiteтАФfiner even than Madame la
Baronne's finest clothes."

"Was there a light about her? A nimbus?"

"I do not understand this word, P├иre Jerome."

"A halo, as you saw around Christ in the Chate├вu's chapel window."

"No. But the sun shone warmly around her, as if in her presence it was
always spring."

"Did she carry a book? Or a lily, perhaps?"

"No, but she wore a necklace and bracelets of gold, all twined around
itself."

"Did she speak with reverence of the Lord God and His Son Jesus
Christ, and say that she had Their blessing to show you this water?"

"N-no," she said more slowly now. "But she did speak of God's Holy
Law."

"And what did she say?"

"ThatтАФthat we had followed it only too well. And that few in this land
serve her now, or know her for who she truly is."