"Jack Vance - The Last Castle" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vance Jack)

physical proportions were good; his face was square and
bony, with a short straight nose, a benign brow, narrow gray
eyes. His expression was normally a trifle abstractedhis
detractors used the word 'vacant'. But by a simple lowering of
the eyelids, a downward twitch of the coarse blond eyebrows,
it at once became stubborn and surly, a fact of which 0. C.
Charle, or Hagedorn, was unaware.
The office, while exerting little or no formal authority,
exerted a pervasive influence, and the style of the gentleman
who was Hagedorn affected everyone. For this reason the
selection of Hagedorn was a matter of no small importance,
subject to hundreds of considerations, and it was the rare
candidate who failed to have some old solectem or gaucherie
discussed with embarrassing candor. While the candidate
might never take overt umbrage, friendships were inevitably
sundered, rancors augmented, reputations blasted. 0. C.
Charle's elevation represented a compromise between two
factions among the Overwheles, to which clan the privilege of
selection had fallen.
The gentlemen between whom 0. C. Charle represented a
compromise were both highly respected, but distinguished by
basically different attitudes toward existence. The first was the
talented Garr of the Zurnbeld family. He exemplified the
traditional virtues of Castle Hagedorn: he was a notable
connoisseur of essences, he dressed with absolute savoir, with
never so much as a pleat nor a twist of the characteristic
Overwhele rosette awry. He combined insouciance and flair
with dignity. His repartee coruscated with brilliant allusions
and turns of phrase. When aroused his wit was utterly
mordant. He could quote every literary work of consequence;
he performed expertly upon the nine-stringed lute, and was
thus in constant demand at the Viewing of Antique Tabards.
He was an antiquarian of unchallengeable erudition and knew
the locale of every major city of Old Earth, and could
discourse for hours upon the history of the ancient times. His
military expertise was unparallelled at Hagedorn, and chal-
lenged only by D. K.. Magdah of Castle Delora and perhaps
Brusham of Tuang. Faults? Flaws? Few could be cited:
over-punctilio which might be construed as waspishness; an
intrepid pertinacity which could be considered ruthless.
0. Z. Garr could never be dismissed as insipid or indeci-
sive, and his personal courage was beyond dispute. Two years
before a stray band of Nomads had ventured into Lucerne
Valley, slaughtering Peasants, stealing cattle, and going so far
as to fire an arrow into the chest of an Isseth cadet. 0. Z.
Garr instantly assembled a punitive company of Meks, loaded
them aboard a dozen power-wagons and set forth in pursuit
of the Nomads, finally overtaking them near Drene River, by
the ruins of Worster Cathedral. The Nomads were unexpect-
edly strong, unexpectedly crafty, and were not content to