"Sheri S. Tepper - The True Game 1 - King's Blood Four" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tepper Sherri)

brood over anything, for Silkhands came to fetch me to the Wizard.
We found him in his own rooms, out of dress, Wizardly costume laid aside in favor of a soft shirt and
trousers which could have clad anyone. He was examining a fruit tree in the enclosed garden.
"They will not ordinarily grow this far north, " he told us. "Except that they find eternal summer among

file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/S...%20Game%201%20-%20King's%20Blood%20Four.htm (26 of 93) [10/18/2004 3:28:53 PM]
 KING'S BLOOD FOUR - Sheri S. Tepper

these mists. We have fruit when others have none, power when others have none. If we can find our way
into the heart of life-within the Game or, likely, out of it-we may build a great people from this place."
I think I started at this heresy, not sure I wanted to hear it, but he pretended not to notice, grinning at me
over his beard, blue eyes glittering with humor and un-derstanding. He went on.
"And you, Healer. Are you ready to admit that your presence does nothing to help Dazzle, indeed, only
makes her worse?"
"Lord, certainly I make her no better. "
"Did you know this lad saw her?" Silkhands turned a shocked face to mine, was convinced by the
expression she found there.
"But how? None can. Except you, Lord, and I. "
"He can, " said Himaggery, "though I cannot think why. Well, life is full of such mysteries, but it were
better for you, boy, if you forgot this one. Am I right that you saw through my eyes? I thought so. Well
then, it may be emerging talent of some kind, and no point in worrying about it. "
"How did sheтАжwhy is sheтАжIтАж"I couldn't get the question out.
"Why is she a hideously maimed person? Why does no one know it? Why? Ah, boy, it's one of those
mysteries I spoke of. But, I don't think Silkhands will mind my telling you. " He looked to her for
permission, and she nodded, eyes fixed upon her twisting hands. He patted her shoulder and told me the
story. "There were two children of Fuller the Seer and his loved wife, a Tragamor woman out of the east:
Silkhands, here, and her full brother, Borold, born two years apart. When they were still children, their
mother died, and Finler took another woman, a Tragamor from Guiles whose name was Tilde. They had a
daughter, some six years younger than Silkhands.. Dazzle. "Silkhands and Borold manifested talent quite
young, when they were about fifteen. Silkhands, being a Healer, was much respected in the place they
lived as Healers often are, whether they merit it or not, though from everything I have learned I would
judge that Silkhands merited it more than most. Borold showed flying early, and then moving, and was
named Sentinel. Dazzle was a beauty, even as a tiny thing, and grew more beautiful than any in the place
had ever seen. But she was not fond of SilkhandsтАж"
"It was Tilde's fault, somewhat, " interjected Silkhands. "She resented my mother even though mother
was long dead. She was jealous of her reputation in the town, and of the fact that I, her daughter, was a
Healer. We cannot blame DazzleтАж"
"Be that as it may, " the Wizard went on, "Dazzle deeply resented her half sister.. And, when at last she
manifested a talent of her own, it was along the lines she had first laid down, glamor, beguilement,
powerholding, and fire-the measure of a Priestess or Witch. Because she was a power-holder, Silkhands
sought her help in healing, for Dazzle could have carried power with which Silkhands could have healed
manyтАж"
"She wouldn't, " cried Silkhands. "She would not do it. She would not carry power for anything except
her own amusement and delight. If there were sick, she would turn away saying, "They are nothing to me.
They stink, besides. It is better if they die. "
The Wizard nodded. "So. And Borold fell under the spell of the girl and turned away from Silkhands and
would not help her in healing, though at one time he had carried her through the air in search of the sick
and wounded. He stopped that and flew only for Dazzle's amusement. "
"Then came a Game, " said Silkhands in a monotone, as though reciting scripture. "A very great Game,
the armies of it massing near the place we lived. And the Tragamors of that Game rained stones upon the