"Jack Vance - Elder Isles 3 - Madouc" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vance Jack)

file:///F|/rah/Jack%20Vance/Vance,%20Jack%20-%20Elder%20Isles%203%20-%20Madouc.txt (3 of 256) [1/17/03 8:02:26 PM]
 file:///F|/rah/Jack%20Vance/Vance,%20Jack%20-%20Elder%20Isles%203%20-%20Madouc.txt


Aillas, constrained by a hundred heavy responsibilities, was somewhat more still and reflective
than Dhrun. His status required that he mask his natural passion and intensity behind a face of
polite indifference: to such an extent that the trait had become almost habitual. Similarly, he
often used a mildness close upon diffidence to disguise his true boldness, which was almost an
extravagance of bravado. His swordsmanship was superb; his wit danced and flickered with the same
sure delicacy, coming in sudden flashes like sunlight bursting through the clouds. Such occasions
transformed his face so that for a moment he seemed as youthful and jubilant as Dhrun himself.

Many folk, observing Aillas and Dhrun together, thought them to be brothers. When assured
otherwise, they tended to wonder at AillasтАЩ precocity in the fathering of his child. Dhrun, in
point of fact, had been taken as an infant to Thripsey Shee; he had lived among the fairiesтАФhow
many years? Eight, nine, ten? There was no way of knowing. Meanwhile, time in the outer world had
advanced but a single year. For compelling reasons, the circumstances of DhrunтАЩs childhood had
been kept secret, despite speculation and wonder.

The two stood leaning on the parapets, watching for those they had come to meet. Aillas was moved
to reminisce of earlier times. тАЬI am never comfortable here; despair seems to hang in the air.тАЭ

Dhrun looked up and down the terrace, which in the bright sunlight seemed inoffensive enough. тАЬThe
place is old. It must be impregnated with misery, which weighs upon the soul.тАЭ

тАЬDo you feel it, then?тАЭ

тАЬNot to any great extent,тАЭ Dhrun admitted. тАЬPerhaps I lack sensitivity.тАЭ

Aillas, smiling, shook his head. тАЬThe explanation is simple: you were never brought here as a
slave. I have walked these very stones with a chain around my neck. I can feel the weight and hear
the jangle; I could probably trace out where I placed my feet. I was in a state of utter despair.тАЭ

Dhrun gave an uneasy laugh. тАЬNow is now; then is then. You should feel exultation in that you have
more than evened the score.тАЭ

Aillas laughed again. тАЬI do indeed! Exultation mixed with dread makes for an odd emotion!тАЭ

тАЬHmf,тАЭ said Dhrun. тАЬThat is hard to imagine.тАЭ

Aillas turned to lean again on the parapet. тАЬI often wonder about тАШnowтАЩ and тАШthenтАЩ and тАШwhat is to
beтАЩ, and how one differs from the other. I have never heard a sensible explanation, and the
thinking makes me more uneasy than ever.тАЭ Aillas pointed to a place down upon the plain. тАЬSee that
little hillock yonder, with the scrub growing up the slopes? The Ska put me to digging in a
tunnel, which was to extend out to that hillock. When the tunnel was finished, the tunnel gang
would be killed, in order to secure the secret. One night we dug up to the surface and escaped,
and so I am alive today.тАЭ

тАЬAnd the tunnel: was it ever finished?тАЭ