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

puzzlement. 0. Z. Garr inquired in the silkiest of voices:
"You envision the gentlefolk of these castles scampering to
refuge at the cock-a-hoop swaggering of the lower orders?"
"Indeed I do, should they wish to survive," responded
Claghom politely. A gentleman of late middle-age, Claghom
was stocky, strong, with black-gray hair, magnificent green
eyes, a manner which suggests great internal force under stern
control. "Flight by definition entails a certain diminution of
dignity," he went on to say. "If 0 Z. Garr can propound an
elegant manner of taking to one's heels. I will be glad to learn
it, and everyone else should likewise heed, because in the days
to come the capability may be of comfort to all."
Hagedom interposed before 0. Z. Garr could reply. "Let
us keep to the issues. I confess I cannot see to the end of all
this. The Meks have demonstrated themselves to be mur-
derers. How can we take murderers back into our service?
But if we don'twell, to say the least, conditions will be
austere until we can locate and train a new force of techni-
cians."
"The spaceships!" exclaimed Xanten. "We must see to them
at once!"
"What's this?" inquired Beaudry, a gentleman of rock-hard
face. "How do you mean: 'see to them'?"
"They must be protected from damage! What else? They
are our link to the Home Worlds. The maintenance Meks
probably have not deserted the hangars, since, if they propose
to exterminate us, they will want to deny us the spaceships."
"Perhaps you care to march with a levy of Peasants to take
the hangars under firm control?" suggested 0. Z. Garr in a
somewhat supercilious voice. A long history of rivalry and
mutual detestation existed between himself and Xanten.
"It may be our only hope," said Xanten. "Stillhow does
one fight with a levy of Peasants? Better that I fly to the
hangars and reconnoiter. Meanwhile, perhaps you, and others
with military expertise, will take in hand the recruitment and
training of a Peasant militia."
"In this regard," stated 0. Z. Garr, "I await the outcome of
our current deliberations. If it develops that here lies the
optimum course, I naturally will apply my competences to the
fullest degree. If your own capabilities are best fulfilled by
spying out the activities of the Meks, I hope you will be
large-hearted enough to do the same."
The two gentlemen glared at each other.
A year previously their enmity had almost culminated in a
duel. Xanten, a gentleman tall, clean-limbed, nervously active,
was gifted with great natural flair, but likewise evinced a
disposition too easy for absolute elegance. The traditionalists
considered him 'sthross', indicating a manner flawed by an
almost imperceptible slackness and lack of punctilio: not the
best possible choice for clan chief.