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

"Mordred," he asked with a cumbrous accent. "Mordred, wha' have ye left Sir Gareth?"
"Where have I left them both?"
The red man began to ejaculate, making his words fast.
"Dinna ape me," he shouted. "Dinna cry like a parrot. Speak where they are."
"Go and look for them, Gawaine, among the people on the square."
Arthur began: "Gareth and Gaheris..."
"Are lying in the market-place. It was difficult to recognize them, because of the blood."
"They are not hurt, surely? They were unarmed. They are not wounded?"
"They are dead."
"Havers, Mordred."


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"Havers, Gawaine."
"But they had no armour," protested the King.
"They had no armour."
Gawaine said, with frightful emphasis: "Mordred, if ye are telling a lie ..."
"... the righteous Gawaine will slay the last of his kin."
"Mordred!"
"Arthur," he replied. He turned on him a face of stone, insanely mixed between venom, blandness and
misery.
"If it is true, it is terrible. Who could have wanted to kill Gareth, and him unarmed?"
"Who?"
"They were not even going to fight. They were going to stand by, because I told them to. Besides,
Lancelot is Gareth's best friend. The boy was friendly with the Ban family. It seems impossible. Are you
sure you are not making a mistake?"
Gawaine's voice suddenly filled the room. "Mordred, wha' killed my brothers?"
"Who indeed?"
He rushed upon the crooked man, towering with passion. "Who but Sir Lancelot, my husky friend."
"Liar! I must away to see."
He stumbled out of the room, still rushing, in the same charge which had taken him towards his brother.
"But, Mordred, are you sure they are dead?"
"The top of Gareth's head was off," he said with indifference, "and he had a surprised expression.
Gaheris had no expression, because his head was split in half."
The King was more puzzled than horrified. He said with wondering sorrow. "Lance could not have done
it. He knew them.... He loved them. They had no helmets on, so that he could recognize them. He
knighted Gareth. He would never have done such a thing."
"No, of course."
"But you say he did."
"I say he did."
"It must have been a mistake."
"It must have been a mistake."

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