"Sheri S. Tepper - The True Game 2 - Necromancer Nine" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tepper Sherri)

"In Hell's Maw," it screamed at me. "They speak, the dead who linger speak, before they fall to
dust, in the pits. When all is dust, we go, we go.
"Have you spoken to Himaggery?" I asked. "To Windlow the Seer?" I remembered the names of
others Riddle had told me of and asked for them, but the apparition sighed no, no, none of these.
Then it drew itself up and that brief flame lit the empty eyes once more. "Words come where
Mandor is ... troubling all ... seeking those you seek ... not there ... not in the place ... Peter ... let me be
whole, whole, whole."
 I sobbed to Dorn. "Let him be whole, Dorn, as he goes to rest." And so it was the phantom sank
into the earth in the guise he had once worn, the kingly crown disappearing at last, in appearance as
whole as he had been in Schooltown before his own treachery maimed him.
And I was left alone, Dorn gone, Mandor gone, only Riddle standing high upon the rim as the wind
sighed through the black firs and the grasses waved endless farewell on Mandor's grave. Inside me a
small dam seemed to break, a place of swampy fear drained away, and I could turn to Riddle with my
face almost calm to go with him back to the millhouse. He was no more given to talk than I, and we had
a silent breakfast, both of us thinking thoughts of old anguish and, I believe, new understanding.
When we had eaten he said, "Peter, I will go with you a way north. I have an errand in that general
direction, and it is better never to travel alone. That is, if I am welcome and my own attributes will not
inhibit your ... business."
I laughed a little. "Riddle, my business is a simple one. I am going in search of my mother who has
... left word of her whereabouts in a place known as 'a city which fears the unborn.' All I know of the
place is that it is north of here."
"But, my boy, I know the place," he exclaimed. "Or, I should say, I've heard of it. It is the city of
Betand, between the upper reaches of the Banner and ... what is the name of that river?... well, another
river to the west. I will go with you almost that far. My business will take me east at the wilderness pass."
"Why is it called a city which fears the unborn?"
"It seems to me I heard the story, but I've forgotten the details of it. Something to do with a
haunting, some mischance by a wandering Necromancer. Your Talent is not generally loved, Peter,
though I can see that it may be useful."
He was being kind, and I helped him by changing the subject. I was glad enough of his company,
gladder still when he proved to be a better cook than Chance and almost as good a companion as my
friend Yarrel had been when we were friends. On the road we talked of a thousand things, most of them
things I had wondered at for years.
One of the things that became apparent was that the Immutables cared little for Gamesmen. Riddle's
toleration of me and of a few others such as Himaggery was not typical. I asked him why they let
Gamesmen exercise Talents at all, feeling as they did.
"We are not numerous enough to do otherwise," he said. "There are fewer Immutables than there
are Gamesmen, many fewer. We do not bear many children, our numbers remain small and our own
skills remain unchanging through time. Immutable, as you would say. Each of us can suppress the Talent
of any Gamesman for some distance around us. I can be safe from Demons Reading my thoughts or
Armigers Flying from above, but I am not safe from an arrow shot from a distance or a flung spear, as
you well know."
I nodded. Tossa had died from an arrow wound.
"So. those of us with the ability find it safer to band together in towns and enclaves with our own
farms and crafters. Thus we can protect ourselves and our families from any danger save force of simple
arms, and this we can oppose with arms of our own. We could be overrun, I suppose, if any group of
Gamesmen chose to do so, but Gamesmen depend too much upon their Talents. Without the Talent of
Beguilement, few if any of their Rulers would be able to lead men into battle. And, of course, the pawns
will not fight us. They turn to us for help from time to time."
"I would think all pawns would flock to you for protection."
"We could not protect them. We are too few."