"Jack Vance - The Gray Prince" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vance Jack)

off. Poor Kelse. Poor Muffin, for that matter.тАЭ

тАЬWhat happened to Muffin?тАЭ

тАЬItтАЩs a long sordid story. I donтАЩt want to talk about it.тАЭ

For a moment the two stood in silence. Elvo Glissam said: тАЬLetтАЩs go out on the terrace and look over the
seaтАФwhere youтАЩll be flying tomorrow.тАЭ

Schaine thought this was a pleasant idea, and they walked out into the warm night. Through the
campander fronds the lights of Olanje were scattered in a long irregular crescent; overhead hung the stars
of the Gaean Reach, many seeming to shimmer with an extra significance for the populated worlds
surrounding.*

Elvo Glissam said: тАЬAn hour ago you were not even a name, and now Schaine Madduc is you, and IтАЩll be
sorry to see you leave. Are you sure you prefer Uaia to Olanje?тАЭ

тАЬI can hardly wait to get home.тАЭ

тАЬIsnтАЩt it bleak and drab and depressing?тАЭ

тАЬOf course not! Where have you heard such nonsense? Uaia is magnificent! The sky is so wide, the
horizons are so far, that mountains, valleys, forests and lakes are lost in the landscape. Everything swims
in light and air; I canтАЩt describe the effect except to say that Uaia does something to your soul. IтАЩve
missed Morningswake terribly these last five years.тАЭ

тАЬYou make Uaia sound interesting.тАЭ



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 THEGRAYPRINCE

тАЬOh, itтАЩs interesting, but itтАЩs not a soft place. Uaia is often cruelтАФmore often than not. If you saw the
wild erjins destroying our cattle, you might not be so pro-erjin.тАЭ

тАЬSee? You completely misunderstand me! IтАЩm not pro-erjin! IтАЩm anti-slavery, and erjins are slaves.тАЭ

тАЬNot the wild erjins! Better if they were.тАЭ

Elvo Glissam gave an indifferent shrug. тАЬIтАЩve never seen a wild erjin, and IтАЩm not likely to have the
opportunity. TheyтАЩre quite extinct in Szintarre.тАЭ

тАЬCome out to Morningswake; youтАЩll see wild erjins, as many as you like.тАЭ

Elvo Glissam said rather wistfully: тАЬIтАЩd accept the invitation if I thought you were serious.тАЭ

Schaine hesitated barely an instant, although her invitation had been intended in general rather than
specific terms. тАЬYes, IтАЩm serious.тАЭ