"Sean Russell - The Initiate Brother 1 - The Initiate Brother" - читать интересную книгу автора (Russell Sean)

The shoji slid aside, revealing the great bulk of the Botahist nun. She was dressed in a long, unpatterned
kimono, in a most unbecoming shade of yellow, gathered at the waist with the purple sash of the Botahist
Orders. Her hair was cut short like a boyтАЩs, offering no softness to relieve the square line of her jaw. She
was, the Supreme Master noted, tanned like a peasant.

тАЬSister Morima. We are honored that you would come so far out of your way to visit us.тАЭ He rose from his
cushion and bowed formally. The nun returned the bow, though only equally.
тАЬThe honor is mine, Brother Nodaku. To visit the mon-

astery of your sect is a privilege granted to so fewтАжтАЬ she stopped, as if at a loss for words.

As he had planned earlier, the Supreme Master moved his writing table aside, but the nun did not apologize
for interrupting. He offered her his cushion and took a second one from a wall closet.

тАЬI bring you greetings and wishes of long health from Sister Saeja,тАЭ Sister Morima said as the Supreme
Master seated himself opposite her.

тАЬAnd how is Sister Saeja? Well, no doubt?тАЭ Brother HuttoтАЩs report had mentioned that the head of the
nunтАЩs Order had recently returned from her annual pilgrimage to Monarta, the place of Lord BotaharaтАЩs
birth, and the old nun was slowing down noticeably.тАЬ

тАЬShe is as constant as the river and as supple as the willow wand, Brother Nodaku, a continual inspiration to
us all.тАЭ

He always found this ploy of hersтАФusing his common nameтАФdisconcerting, as though the Initiate Nodaku
had suddenly been caught impersonating the head of the Order.

тАЬThat is good news, Sister. Do you have other news you can share? We are so isolated here!тАЭ

She flashed an amused smile. тАЬIтАЩve just returned from the island of the barbarian, Brother. IтАЩm sure your
news is more recent than mine.тАЭ The Supreme Master remained silent, but the nun offered nothing more.

Lifting an ivory hammer that sat before a polished bronze gong, the monk asked, тАЬCha?тАЭ

тАЬThank you, yes, Brother, and some food, if it is not too much of an imposition.тАЭ She bit off the last words.

The Supreme Master almost laughed as he tapped the gong. He knew the nunтАЩs weakness. Brother
Nodaku , indeed! Footsteps sounded in the hall and then, as a knock was heard on the screen, a second set
of footsteps joined them.

тАЬPlease enter,тАЭ the Supreme Master said with understated authority. The face of Shuyun, the senior
Neophyte who was causing all the fuss, appeared and before the Supreme Master realized what was
happening, the

face of the Neophyte servant came into view also. The two boys were startled by the unexpected presence
of the Botahist nun. For an instant they stood in awkward silence and then they both bowed, bumping each
other in the half opened doorway.

тАЬDo you need me to serve you, Supreme Master?тАЭ the second Neophyte asked.