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

Magnus Ridolph turned off the mnemiphot, sat back in the chair, stroked his beard reflectively. "Where
odds exist," he said to himself, "there likewise exists the possibility of upsetting the odds... Luckily, my
obligation to Mrs. Chickering will in no way interfere with a certain measure of subsidiary profits. Or
better, let us say, recompense."




II

Alighting from the Phoenix Line packet, the Hesperornis, Ridolph was startled momentarily by the close
horizons of Kokod. The sky seemed to begin almost at his feet.

Waiting to transfer the passengers to the inn was an over-decorated charabanc. Magnus Ridolph gingerly
took a seat, and when the vehicle lurched forward a heavy woman scented with musk was thrust against
him. "Really!" complained the woman.

"A thousand apologies," replied Magnus Ridolph, adjusting his position. "Next time I will take care to
move out of your way."

The woman brushed him with a contemptuous glance and turned to her companion, a woman with the
small head and robust contour of a peacock.

"Attendant!" the second woman called presently.


file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/Ja...20Many%20Worlds%20of%20Magnus%20Ridolph.html (7 of 132) [10/18/2004 3:43:07 PM]
 THE MANY WORLDS OF MAGNUS RIDOLPH by Jack Vance

"Yes, Madame."

"Tell us about these native wars; we've heard so much about them."

"They're extremely interesting, Madame. The little fellows are quite savage."

"I hope there's no danger for the onlookers?"

"None whatever; they reserve their unfriendliness for each other."

"What time are the excursions?"

"I believe the Ivory Dune and the Eastern Shield Tumbles march tomorrow; the scene of battle no doubt
will center around Muscadine Meadow, so there should be three excursions. To catch the deployments,
you leave the inn at 5:00 a.m.; for the onslaught, at 6:00 a.m.; and at 7:00 or 8:00 for the battle proper."

"It's ungodly early," the matron commented. "Is nothing else going on?"

"I'm not certain, Madame. The Green Ball and the Shell Strand might possibly war tomorrow, but they
would engage according to Convention 4, which is hardly spectacular."