"Michael Swanwick - 'Hello,' said the Stick" - читать интересную книгу автора (Swanwick Michael)

"Hello,тАЭ said the Stick
by Michael Swanwick
Arms races, by their nature, tend to escalate. But the biggest leaps aren't necessarily the most
dramatic....

тАЬHello,тАЭ said the stick.
The soldier stopped, and looked around. He did not touch the hilt of his sword, but he adjusted his
stance so he could reach it quickly, if need be. But there was nothing to be seen. The moors stretched flat
and empty for miles about. тАЬWho said that?тАЭ
тАЬI did. Down here.тАЭ
тАЬAh. I see.тАЭ The soldier poked gingerly at the stick with his foot. тАЬSome sort of radio device, eh? I've
heard of such. Where are you speaking from?тАЭ
тАЬI'm right here. The stick. I'm from off-planet. They can make things like me there.тАЭ
тАЬCan they, now? Well that's interesting, I suppose.тАЭ
тАЬPick me up,тАЭ said the stick. тАЬTake me with you.тАЭ
тАЬWhy?тАЭ
тАЬBecause I make an excellent weapon.тАЭ
тАЬNo, I mean what's in it for you?тАЭ
The stick paused. тАЬYou're smarter than you look.тАЭ
тАЬThanks. I think.тАЭ
тАЬOK, here's the deal. I'm a symbiotic mechanism. I was designed to be totally helpless without a
human partner. Pick me up, throw an acorn in the air, take a swing at it, and I can shift my weight so you
hit it a country mile. Leave me here and I can't budge an inch.тАЭ
тАЬWhy would they build you like that?тАЭ
тАЬSo I'd be a good and faithful tool. And I will. I'll be the best quarterstaff you ever had. Try me and
see.тАЭ
тАЬHow do I know you won't take over my brain?тАЭ the soldier asked suspiciously. тАЬI've heard offworld
wizards can make devices that do things like that.тАЭ
тАЬThey're called technicians, not wizards. And that sort of technology is strictly prohibited on planetary
surfaces. You have nothing to worry about.тАЭ
тАЬEven so ... it's nothing I'd want to chance.тАЭ
The stick sighed. тАЬTell me something. What's your rank? Are you a general? A field commander?тАЭ
тАЬTramping alone across the moors like this? Naw, I'm just a gallowglass-a mercenary and a foot
soldier.тАЭ
тАЬThen what have you got to lose?тАЭ
The soldier laughed aloud. He bent to pick up the stick. Then he put it down again. Then he picked it
up.
тАЬSee?тАЭ
тАЬWell, I don't mind telling you that takes a weight off my mind.тАЭ
тАЬI could use a change of scenery. Let's go. We can talk along the way.тАЭ The soldier resumed his
stroll down the dirt track. He swung the stick lightly back and forth before him, admiring how it lopped
off the heads of thistles, while deftly sidestepping the sedge-roses. тАЬSo you're off to join the Iron Duke in
his siege of Port Morningstar, are you?тАЭ the stick remarked conversationally.
тАЬHow'd you know that?тАЭ
тАЬOh, one hears things, being a stick. Fly on the wall, and all that.тАЭ
тАЬIt's an unfamiliar figure of speech, but I catch your meaning. Who do you think's going to win? The
Iron Duke or the Council of Seven?тАЭ
тАЬIt's a close thing, by all accounts. But the Iron Duke has the advantage of numbers. That always
counts for something. If I had to bet money, I'd say you chose employers well.тАЭ
тАЬThat's good. I like being on the winning side. Less chance of dying, for one thing.тАЭ