"Roger Taylor - Whistler" - читать интересную книгу автора (Taylor Roger)

he said, his voice soft and hoarse. тАШTake care that . . .тАЩ
 тАШThat what?тАЩ Vredech interrupted, lifting his arms and then dropping them violently. тАШIтАЩm not the one
whoтАЩs in trouble. IтАЩm not the one who called the head of the church a heretic. IтАЩm not the one whoтАЩs
being complained about incessantly by his flock. IтАЩm not . . .тАЩ he spluttered to a stop for a moment, then
seemed to gather new strength. тАШAnd donтАЩt you call me a blasphemer,тАЩ he said, indignantly. тАШSince when
is it blasphemy to speak the truth? Where thereтАЩs doubt, thereтАЩs doubt, and the blasphemy lies in not
facing it, you know that well enough.тАЩ He laid his hand on the book that Cassraw was holding. тАШThese are
the reports of men, Cassraw,тАЩ he said, his voice softening. тАШWise and revered men, but like all of us,
flawed. Subject to . . .тАЩ

He faltered as he sensed Cassraw retreating into the grim silence that was becoming increasingly his
answer to reasoned debate тАУ when he was not actually shouting it down. тАШAll right, all right,тАЩ he said
quickly. тАШLetтАЩs not travel over that ground again. But do letтАЩs be practical. YouтАЩll be lucky if Mueran
doesnтАЩt have you dismissed from your post if you carry on like this.тАЩ

тАШThere are others who agree with me,тАЩ Cassraw interjected.

Vredech looked at him, worldly-wise. тАШMaybe, but theyтАЩll disagree fast enough if their posts are
threatened. For pityтАЩs sake, put a curb on your tongue. The Church is tolerant enough to accommodate a
wide range of different ideas on theological matters. Why risk everything youтАЩve got with this nonsense?тАЩ

He clapped a hand to his head as if that might draw back the ill-considered word, but before he could
speak, Cassraw was already heading towards the main door.

тАШIтАЩm sorry,тАЩ Vredech called out, moving after him. тАШI didnтАЩt mean to say that. It . . .тАЩ

Cassraw had hold of the iron ring that secured the door. тАШThis church is corrupted with compromise,тАЩ he
said, his head bowed and his eyes fixed on the ring. тАШIt must reform. Return to the truth of the Word or
weтАЩll all be doomed. It must be made whole again.тАЩ He tightened his grip about the ring. тАШLike this тАУ
unbroken тАУ self-contained.тАЩ He turned towards Vredech, his black eyes gazing piercingly. тАШFollow me or
leave me, Vredech,тАЩ he said, his voice deep and resonant. тАШFollow me, or leave me.тАЩ

Vredech was suddenly alarmed. He felt events slipping away from him. CassrawтАЩs outburst in the
Debating Hall had been a serious matter, but it was repairable, with care: an apology, a little penitence
would right it. But he saw now that something strange was happening to Cassraw. He felt a touch of the
quality he had sensed in him at times when they were growing up together. A quality that he had thought
as long passed as their youth itself. An obsessive, almost fanatical quality that in someone else he might
have called evil, though the word did not come to him now.

He hesitated, part of him saying, тАШLeave him alone, youтАЩre only making him worse.тАЩ But the greater part
of him forbade inaction where there was pain. He had to reach out тАУ do something.

He laid his hand on the door to prevent Cassraw from opening it, and, with an effort, met the unnerving
gaze. тАШWhat are you going to do?тАЩ he demanded. тАШYouтАЩve a wife to think of, an important position to
maintain тАУ one you strove for and won deservedly. I know youтАЩve got problems with some of your flock,
but that happens to everyone at some time or another. You canтАЩt jeopardize everything like this. Come
back with me now. We can smooth everything over with a little care.тАЩ

But even as he spoke he knew that his words were not reaching his friend. тАШCorrupt with compromise,
Vredech,тАЩ Cassraw repeated. тАШFollow me or leave me.тАЩ Then he pulled open the door and stepped