"Charles Stross - Merchant princes 02 - The Hidden Family" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stross Charles)

splitting headache. I don't think that's a really great idea. And I'm limited to
what I can carry."

Wheris Paulie due back? she wondered. She'll be able to help.

"What about a coaching-house?" Brill asked, practical-minded as ever.

"A coachingтАФ" Miriam stopped dead. "But I can'tтАФ"
"There's one about two miles down the road from Fort Lofstrom." Brill looked
thoughtful. "We dress you as a, an oracle's wife, summoned to a village down the
coast to join your husband in his new parish. Your trap broke a wheel andтАФ" She
ran down. "Oh. You don't speak hoh'sprashe."

"Yup." Miriam nodded. "Doesn't work well, does it?"

"No." Brill wrinkled her nose. "What a nuisance! We could go together," she
added tentatively.

"I think we'll have to do that," said Miriam. "Probably I play the mute mother
and you play the daughterтАФI try to look older, you to look younger. Think it
would work?"

From Brilliana's slow nod she realized that Brill didтАФand wasn't enthusiastic
about it. "It might."

"It would also leave you stranded in the back of beyond up near, where was it,
Hasleholm, if I don't come back, wouldn't it?" Miriam pointed out. "On the other
hand, you'd be in the right place. You could make your way to Fort Lofstrom and
tell Angbard what happened. He'd take care of you," she added. "Just tell him I
ordered you to come along with me. He'll swallow that."

"I don't want to go back," Brilliana said evenly. "Not until I've seen more of
this wonderful world."

Miriam nodded soberly at her. "Me too, kid. So we're not going to plan on me not
coming back, are we? Instead, we're going to plan on us both going over,
spending the night at a coach-house, and then walking down the road to the next
one. They're only about twenty miles apartтАФit's a fair hike, but not impossible.
Along the way, I disappear, and catch up with you later. We spend the night
there, then we turn backтАФand cross back here. How does that sound?"

"Three days?" Brill looked thoughtful. "And you'll bring me back here?"

"Of course." Miriam brooded for a moment. "I think I want some more tea," she
decided. "Want some?"

"Oh yes!" Brilliana sat up eagerly. "Is there any of Earl Grey's own blend?"
]

"I'll just check." Miriam wandered into Paulette's kitchen, her mind spinning