"Benjamin Rosenbaum - Embracing The New" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rosenbaum Benjamin)

Vru returned from a week of fasting on the day of the
Festival of Hrsh. He was weak, but he felt purified, ready for
his task. When Embracing-the-New was unveiled, he would
finally win honor for his family.
He sat on the stage, next to Khancriterquee. In front of
them stood the monument, hidden by a cloth. Vru longed to
see Embracing-The-New, but he could not, until the god was
revealed. Suddenly he wondered what the people would see.
A Bereft or a criminal as a god, reaching for a forbidden
Ghennung! If the god had not carved it through his hands, he
would be appalled himself. He trembledтАФwhat if they did not
see the hand of the god? What if he had carved heresy? He
tried to focus on Delighting-In-Beauty, to let her center him
as a potter centers clay upon the wheel. But his head swam
with images. The strong and lovely Bereft who had worked
the green stone; the bloody head, rolling in the dust of the
mine pit. The Godless and their strange, evil customs. He
imagined the Bereft of his statue, reaching out to greet them.
He sat stiffly, his head full of strange thoughts, until it was
time.
The priest was calling him. He jerked out of his seat,
stumbled across the stage. All around, the audience strained
forward. A few people hushed children, then all was still. He
reached up and pulled the cloth from Embracing-The-New,
and a cry went up from the crowd.
But it was not Embracing-The-New.
The form was the same; it was his own block of green
stone that he had lovingly carved. But into the figure's flesh
were carved the distinct bulges of Ghennungs: seventeen
13
 Embracing-The-New
by Benjamin Rosenbaum


Ghennungs, a new number for a new god. And the reaching
claw was not caressing a fallen Ghennung; it was crushing a
tiny Godless soldier with his claws aflame.
In the stone were the bold, smooth strokes of the master's
hand.
The people applauded. Vru turned to look at
Khancriterquee.
The master's jaws were drawn up into a satisfied,
indulgent smirk. I added that which you forgot, his eyes said.
It was not bad work, but the message was not correct. I
corrected it.
What does it matter, Vru imagined Khancriterquee saying.
What does it matter? He gazed at Vru smugly. You have
proved yourself worthy of me. Soon this body will collapse,
and you will carry my Ghennungs. All my memories, all my