"T. H. White - The Once and Future King" - читать интересную книгу автора (White T.H)

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He was cross at not being able to solve the problem.
"If only I had my armour," he said with irritation, "it seems ridiculous to be caught like a rat in a trap."
He looked round the room, cursing himself for having forgotten his weapon.
"Traitor Knight," boomed the voice, "come out of the Queen's chamber!"
Another voice, musical and self-possessed, cried pleasantly; "Wit thou well, here are fourteen armed,
and thou canst not escape." It was Mordred, and the hammering was growing louder.
"Well, damn them then," he said. "We can't have this noise. I shall have to go, or they will wake the
castle."
He turned to the Queen and took her in his arms.
"Jenny, I am going to call you my most noble Christian Queen. Will you be strong?"
"My dear."
"My sweet old Jenny. Let us have a kiss. Now, you have always been my special good lady, and we
have never failed before. Do not be frightened this time. If they kill me, remember Sir Bors. All my
brothers and nephews will look after you. Send a message to Bors or Demaris, and they will rescue you
if necessary. They will take you safe to Joyous Gard, and you can live there on my own land, like the
Queen you are. Do you understand?"
"If you are killed, I shall not want to be rescued."
"You will," he said firmly. "It is important that somebody should be alive to explain about us decently.
That is the hard work which you will have to do. Besides, I should want you to pray."
"No. The prayers will have to be done by somebody else. If they kill you, they can burn me. I shall take
my death as meekly as any Christian queen."
He kissed her tenderly and set her in the chair.
"Too late to argue," he said. "I know you will be Jenny whatever happens, and I must e'en be Lancelot."
Then, still glancing round the room with a preoccupied look, he added absent-mindedly: "It makes no
odds about my quarrel, but they did ill to force it on you."
She watched him, trying not to cry.
"I would give my foot," he said, "to have a little armour тАФeven just a sword, so that they could
remember."
"Lance, if they would kill me, and save you, I should be happy."
"And I should be extremely miserable," he answered, suddenly finding himself in intense good humour.

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"Well, well, we shall have to do the best we can. Bother my very old bones, but I believe I am going to
enjoy it!"
He put the candles on the lid of the Limoges chest, so that they would be behind his back when he
opened the door. He picked up his black cloak and folded it carefully lengthwise into four, after which
he wound it round his left hand and forearm as a protection. He picked up the foot-stool from beside the
bed, balanced it in his right hand, and took a last look round the room. All the time the noise was getting
louder outside, and two men were evidently trying to cut through the wood with their battle-axes, an
attempt which was frustrated by the cross grains of the double ply. He went to the door and raised his
voice, at which there was immediate silence.
"Fair Lords," he said, "leave your noise and your rashing. I shall set open this door, and then ye may do
with me what it liketh you."