"Jack Vance - The Many Worlds of Magnus Ridolph" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vance Jack)

The Kokod warrior inhaled deeply; wattles beside his chin quivered. From the mnemiphot screen issued a
high-pitched stridency. Interpretation appeared on a panel to the right.

"I am Sam 192, squadronite, Company 14 of the Advance Force, in the service of Rock River Tumble.
Our valor is a source of wonder to all; our magnificent stele is rooted deep, and exceeded in girth only by
the steles of Rose Slope Tumble and crafty Shell Strand Tumble.

"This day I have come at the invitation of the (untranslatable) of Small Square Tumble, to tell of our
victories and immensely effective strategies."

Another sound made itself heard: a man speaking falsetto in the Kokod language. The interpretation read:

Question: Tell us about life in Rock River Tumble.

Sam 192: It is very companionable.

Q: What is the first thing you do in the morning?

A: We march past the matrons, to assure ourselves of a properly martial fercundity.

Q: What do you eat?

A: We are nourished in the fields. (Note: The Kokod metabolism is not entirely understood; apparently
they ferment organic material in a crop, and oxidize the resultant alcohols.)

Q: Tell us about your daily life.

A: We practice various disciplines, deploy in the basic formations, hurl weapons, train the kinderlings,

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 THE MANY WORLDS OF MAGNUS RIDOLPH by Jack Vance


elevate the veterans.

Q: How often do you engage in battle?

A: When it is our time: when the challenge has issued and the appropriate Code of Combat agreed upon
with the enemy.

Q: You mean you fight in various styles?

A: There are 97 conventions of battle which may be employed: for instance, Code 48, by which we
overcame strong Black Glass Tumble, allows the lance to be grasped only by the left hand and permits no
severing of the leg tendons with the dagger. Code 69, however, insists that the tendons must be cut before
the kill is made and the lances are used thwart-wise, as bumpers.

Q: Why do you fight? Why are these wars?