"Vance, Jack - Elder Isles 03 - Madouc" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vance Jack)

УPymfyd, are you a criminal?Ф

УBy no manner or means!Ф

УThen you need fear nothing!Ф

УNot so! The innocent are often dealt the most vicious blows.Ф

УAllow me to do the worrying, Pymfyd, and in any case we shall hope for the best.Ф

УYour Highness, I suggest-Ф

Madouc brought to bear the full force of her blue gaze. УNot another word, if you please.Ф

Pymfyd threw his arms in the air. УAs you will.Ф

Madouc turned away with dignity and continued up the slope beside the black masonry walls of the Peinhador. Pymfyd came sullenly behind.

At the corner of the structure Madouc halted and surveyed the grounds at the back of the Peinhador. At the far end, at a distance of fifty yards, stood a massive gibbet and several other machines of grim purpose, as well as three iron posts for the burning of miscreants, a firepit and griddle used for a similar purpose. Closer at hand, only a few yards distant, at the back of a barren area Madouc discovered what she had come to find: a circular stone wall three feet high surrounding an opening five feet in diameter.

Step by slow step, and despite PymfydТs inarticulate mutter of protest, Madouc crossed the stony barrens to the circular wall and peered down into the black depths below. She listened, but heard nothing. She pitched her voice so that it might be heard in the black depths and called: УFather! Can you hear me?Ф She listened: no sound returned. УFather, are you there? It is Madouc, your daughter!Ф

Pymfyd, scandalized by MadoucТs acts, came up behind her. УWhat are you doing? This is not proper conduct, either for you or for me!Ф

Madouc paid him no heed. Leaning over the opening she called again: УCan you hear me? It has been a very long time! Are you still alive? Please speak to me! It is your daughter Madouc!Ф

From the darkness below came only profound silence.

PymfydТs imagination was not of a far-ranging nature; nevertheless he conceived that the stillness was not ordinary, but rather that where listeners quietly held their breath. He tugged at MadoucТs arm and spoke in a husky whisper: УPrincess, there is a strong smell of ghosts to this place! Listen with a keen ear, you can hear them chittering down deep in the darkness.Ф

Madouc cocked her head and listened. УBah! I hear no ghosts.Ф

УYou are not listening with proper ears! Come away now, before they rob us of our senses!Ф

УDo not talk nonsense, Pymfyd! King Casmir dropped my father down this hole, and I must learn if he still lives.Ф

Pymfyd peered down the shaft. УNothing down there lives. In any case, it is royal business, beyond our scope!Ф

УNot so! Is it not my father who was immured?Ф

УNo matter; he is no less dead.Ф

Madouc nodded sadly. УSo I fear. But I suspect that he left some memorial as to his name and pedigree. If nothing else, this is what I wish to know.Ф

Pymfyd gave his head a decisive shake. УIt is not possible; now let us go.Ф

Madouc paid no heed. УLook, Pymfyd! On yonder gibbet hangs a rope. With this rope we will lower you down the shaft to the bottom. The light will be poor, but you must look about to see what has transpired and what records remain.Ф

Pymfyd stared, mouth gaping in wonder. He stuttered: УHave I heard rightly? You intend that I should descend into the hole? The idea lacks merit.Ф