"Roger Taylor - Nightfall 1 - Farnor" - читать интересную книгу автора (Taylor Roger)

Still Rannick said nothing. He was looking to the north, still, so it seemed, scenting the wind.

Farnor turned and began to run. Not so fast as to appear to be frightened, he hoped, but sufficient to
emphasize the urgency of his message. He needed the movement and the wind in his face to quieten his
churning stomach. He did not look back until he knew he would no longer be able to see Rannick on the
skyline.

****

The farmhouse of Garren and Katrin Yarrance was little different from any other in the valley, though its
stone walls were somewhat thicker than most and its thatched roof a little steeper, in deference to the fact
that it was the highest farm up the valley and tended to receive more of the winter snows than those lower
down.

The Yarrance family land was not particularly good but it was quite extensive, having grown through the
generations as less able, or less fortunate, families had gradually given up the struggle to eke a living from
those farms that were then even higher up the valley.

Land ownership, however, was not a matter of great sensitivity to the valley dwellers. Not much was
fenced, and cattle, sheep and people roamed fairly freely. The valley was big enough to feed everyone
who lived in it and that was all that really mattered.

In any event, technically, the land belonged to the King, being let on lease and liable to the payment of an
annual tithe. This was calculated from an ancient and very arcane formula, which approximated (very
roughly) to one seventeenth of the dairy produce, a nineteenth of all grains and harvestable grasses, and a
sixteenth of all meat produce on alternate years except in the year of a coronation or in the event of
invasion or eclipse. (There were also exemptions for some produce and special levies for others during
those years in which the King and his family, to first cousin, were blessed with children or diminished by
death). Root crops were exempt, as were strawberries and apples (except where grown for purposes of
barter), but not raspberries or pears. All individual tithings were doubled in respect of any produce used
in the making of spirituous liquors (of any character, save those used medicinally).

After that, matters became complicated.

How this fiscal wisdom had been so succinctly distilled was beyond anyoneтАЩs current knowledge, and,
indeed, there were only a few left in the valley who could even attempt to calculate the due tithe. And
they rarely agreed on the final answer.

Not that any of this was of great concern, for just as Garren YarranceтАЩs farm was at the extremity of the
valley, so the valley itself was at the extremity of the kingdom, and not only did little or no news of kingly
affairs ever reach them, neither did the tithe gatherers. Or at least they had not done so for many years.

Views were divided on this benison.

тАШThe tithe should be collected,тАЩ said some. тАШIt is the KingтАЩs due and if the gatherers come and thereтАЩs
nothing prepared, then the penalty could be harsh.тАЩ

This could not be denied and was a cause of much furrowing of brows amongst those advocating this
course. Others, less cautious, thought differently.