"Lawrence Watt - Evans - The Guardswoman" - читать интересную книгу автора (Watt-Evans Lawrence)

By the time I finished all the tests, though, a whole crowd had gathered to watch, and the
were laughing and cheering-I never saw so many people! There were more people there tha
there are in our entire village!

And I was exhausted, too-but Lieutenant Gerath was really impressed, and he vouched f
me to Captain Dabran, and here I am! I'm a soldier! They've given me my yellow tunic and
everything.

I don't have a red skirt yet, though-all they had on hand were kilts, and of course I want t
wear something decent, not walk around with my legs bare. It must be cold in the winter, go
around like that.

Anyway, they didn't have any proper skirts; they're going to give me the fabric and let m
make my own. And they didn't have any breastplates that fit-naturally, one that was meant f
man isn't going to fit me. I'm not shaped like that. The armorer is working on making me one

I asked why they didn't have any for women, and everyone kind of looked embarrassed,
kept asking, andтАж

Well, Mother, you know we've always heard that the City Guard is open to anyone over
sixteen who can handle the job, man or woman, and everyone here swears that's true, so I
asked how many women there are in the Guard right now, and everyone got even more
embarrassed, but finally Captain Dabran answered me.

One.

Me.

There have been others in the past, though not for several years, and they wouldn't mind
more in the future, but right now, there's just me.

I guess it's a great honor, but I wonder whether it might get a bit lonely. It's going to be h
to fit in.

I mean, right now, I'm writing this while sitting alone in the North Barracks. I have my o
room here, since I'm the only woman in the Guard, but even if I didn't, I'd be alone. Everyon
else who's off duty went out. I asked where they were going, you know, hinting that I'd like
come along, but when I found out where they were going I decided I'd stay here and write th
letter.

They're going down to the part of the city called Soldiertown, where all the tradespeopl
who supply the Guard are. I've been down there-to Tavern Street, and Sword Street, and
Armorer Street, and Gambler Street.

Except tonight, they're all going to Whore Street.

Somehow I figured it would be better if I didn't go along.

Well, I guess that's about everything I had to say. I'm a soldier now, and I'm fine, and I h
everything's fine back home. Say hello to Thira and Kara for me.