"Sheri S. Tepper - Awakeners 2 - Southshore" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tepper Sherri)

were."
"Violence?"
"Some. Fights break out. Mostly the deaths are old people dying of lung disease
brought on by cold and hunger. Some younger ones, too, through accidents or
violence. Some children and babies, the same."
"So, the pits are full," Gendra mused. "Well, the fliers wanted the quota of
bodies increased. They should be happy." "Ezasper Jorn," queried Bossit,
"what mood are the fliers in?"
Jorn, huddled in his chair wrapped in three layers of blankets, blinked owlishly at
them from his cavern of covers. "Voiceless as mulluks. They may not understand
what's going on so far as a crusade is concerned. They don't seem curious, but
then they've seen these little skirmishes before. We've had intertown wars; we've

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 SOUTHSHORE-Awakeners 2


had rebellions put down by the Towers. That kind of thing has filled the worker
pits from time to time over the centuries, so they might not think much of it. In
short, they do not seem to be concerned. It's a local phenomenon, after all."
"They'll scarcely change their reproductive habits on the basis of this temporary
glut, which, at most, affects ten or a dozen towns." Koma Nepor was using his
best pedant's voice, reserved for meetings such as this where chortle and giggle
would not serve. "I agree with Jorn. They'll stuff themselves for a time; then the
movement or whatever it is will fizzle out as these things always do; and they'll
go back to normal."
"Hungry normal," commented Gendra with a vast grinding of teeth. "In those
towns, at least. With all the oldsters gone, the death rate will be low for a time."
She reflected upon this. There was no reason the average lifespan should not be
somewhat shortened. For parents, say, fifteen years after the birth of the last child.
Or even twelve. For nonreproducers, earlier, unless they filled some important
niche in the town economy. She would send word to the Towers. Fuller pits
around the world would please the fliers, and if she could start currying the favor
of the Talkers even now ...
"So, the Talkers will tell the fliers to move across town lines and share." Shavian
was heartily weary of the entire discussion.
"The point is not what the fliers will or will not do, though it may come to that
later. The point is, what are we to do?"
Tharius stirred uneasily. He had been arguing the proper course of action with
himself for days now, first yes, then no, both sides with reasons that seemed
equally good. Now he must choose.
"Have her brought before me," he said firmly, nothing in his voice betraying
either how little faith he had in his own recommendation or how deeply he was
invested in its success. "Have her brought here. We know where she is. We do not
need to wait for Laughers to find her. They were instructed, had they found her, to
bring her here, so let us get on with it. Send word to the Jondarites inтАФwhat's the
next town west, Gendra?" He knew perfectly well. Pamra Don had surfaced in a
hotbed of the cause. The dozen towns west of Thou-ne were all rife with
rebellion, and their Towers were full of Tharius's men.