"Sean Russell - Moontide and Magic Rise 1 - World Without End" - читать интересную книгу автора (Russell Sean)

it seemed he might break and run. A third man raised aloft a white handkerchief, like a flag of peaceтАж and
then released it.

The man in the carriage thought afterward that he must have blinked, for he did not see the thrust. Only
Elsworth bent forward over a flexed knee, poised like a dancer, sliding his blade from the chest of the
collapsing baron.

тАЬFlames!тАЭ the man in the carriage whispered.
The viscount stood for a moment, looking at the fallen man, and then he turned and handed his blade to
another. His second spoke to him and then went slowly over to the men gathered around the wounded
baron. He hovered on the edge of this scene for a momentтАФ the faithful gathered around the fallen
heroтАФperhaps he spoke, and then crossed back to the viscount, who stood now with a coat draped about
his shoulders. They nodded to each other, like men of business at the end of the day, and then went directly
to a large carriage drawn up under the elms.

The man watching realized he had raised his hands in horror and half covered his face. He took hold of
himself as best he could. тАЬHawkins?тАЭ he said, leaning out to speak to his driver, his voice trembling. тАЬWill
you go down?тАЭ

The driver nodded stiffly and set off, picking his way hurriedly among the brambles down the slope to the
open field. The man sat back in his carriage, breathing in short gasps, and then banged his cane hard on the
floorboards. He had so hoped that he was wrong.

It was only a few moments until a gentle tap sounded on the carriage door. тАЬHawkins?тАЭ

тАЬIt would appear to be a thrust to the heart, sir.тАЭ A pause. A breath roughly drawn. тАЬI think he still lives but
canтАЩt continue much longer.тАЭ

тАЬNo, IтАЩm sure he canтАЩt.тАЭ The man looked out at the field once again. The retreating carriage. The small
group bearing up their dying companion. He could almost see the horror on their faces. None of them had
expected thisтАФan accidental injury, perhaps, but not this.

тАЬShall I take you back, sir?тАЭ the driver asked quietly. The old man shook his head. тАЬNo. We go on. You
must have me in Merton by nightfall.тАЭ

TWO
What are the beliefs of this тАЬMan of Reason?тАЭ That the application of reason to all areas of life will lead mankind into a golden age
of peace, knowledge, and prosperity. That religion and nationalism, are merely guises of tribalismтАФmanifestations of base passions
unbridled by reasonтАФand all lead us away from the тАЬreasonable worldтАЭ into ignorance and endless cycles of violence.

Beaumont: The Man of Reason

The sloop of war that carried Tristam Flattery to Avonel was named Mysterious, and he saw irony in that.
He stood at the shipтАЩs rail watching the eastern shore of the sound creep past, listening to the slap of small
waves against the hull.

тАЬWe will certainly make harbor this evening, Mr. Flattery.тАЭ It was Hawksmoor, a minion of the KingтАЩs
ManтАФthe one who pried.

тАЬSo perhaps now you can tell me the reason I have been summoned?тАЭ Tristam did not turn to look at the