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

"Come off then," they cried confusedly. "Do it." "It availeth thee not to strive against us all." "Let us into
the chamber." "We shall save thy life if you come to King Arthur."
He put his shoulder against the leaping door and softly pushed the beam back, into the wall. Then, still
holding the door shut with his shoulderтАФthe people on the other side had desisted from their hewing,
feeling that something was about to happenтАФhe settled his right foot firmly on the ground, about two
feet from the door jamb, and let the door swing open. It stopped with a jerk at his foot, leaving a narrow
opening so that it was more ajar than open, and a single knight in full armour blundered through the gap
with the obedience of a puppet on strings. Lancelot slammed the door behind him, shot the bar, took the
figure's sword by the pommel in his padded left hand, jerked him forward, tripped him up, bashed him
on the head with the stool as he was falling, and was sitting on his chest in a triceтАФas limber as he had
ever been. All was done with what seemed to be ease and leisure, as if it were the armed man who was
powerless. The great turret of a fellow, who had entered in the height and breadth of armour, and who
had stood for a second looking for his adversary through the slit of his helmet, this man had given an
impression of docilityтАФhe seemed to have come in, and to have handed his sword to Lancelot, and to
have thrown himself upon the ground. Now the iron hulk lay, as obediently as ever, while the bare-
legged man pressed its own swordpoint through the ventail of the visor. It made a few protesting
shudders, as he pressed down with both hands on the pommel of the sword.
Lancelot stood up, rubbing his hands on the dressing-gown.
"I am sorry I had to kill him."
He opened the visor and looked. "Agravaine of Orkney!"


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There was a terrific outcry from beyond the door, with hammering, hewing and cursing, as Lancelot
turned to the Queen. "Help with the armour," he said briefly. She came at once, without repugnance, and
they kneeled together beside the body, stripping it of the vital pieces.
"Listen," he said as they worked. "This gives us a fair chance. If I can drive them off I shall turn back for
you, and you will come to Joyous Gard."
"No, Lance. We have done enough harm. If you do fight your way out, you must keep away till it blows
over. I shall stay here. If Arthur forgives me, and if it can be hushed up, then you can come back later. If
he does not forgive me, you can come to the rescue. Where does this go?" "Give it to me." "Here is the
other one."
"You were far better to come," he urged, struggling into the habergeon like a footballer putting on his
jersey.
"No. If I come, everything is broken forever. If I stay, we may be able to patch it up. You can always
rescue me if necessary."
"I don't like to leave you."
"If I am condemned, and you rescue me, I promise I will come to Joyous Gard." "And if not?"
"Wipe the helmet with your cloak," she said. "If not, then you can come back later, and everything will
be as it was." "Very well. There. I can do without the rest." He straightened himself, holding the bloody
sword, and looked at the dead body which had killed its mother.
"Gareth's brother," he said thoughtfully. "Perhaps he was drunk. God rest himтАФthough it seems absurd
to say it." The old lady turned him to face the candles. "It means Good-bye," she whispered, "for a
little." "It means Good-bye." "Give me a kiss?" she asked.
He kissed her hand, because he was armed and dirty with blood and covered with metal. They thought
simultaneously of the thirteen men outside.
"I should like you to take something of mine, Lance, and to leave me something of yours. Will you