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

"It is nothing. You will hurt your head."
"What is it?"
"Nothing. It is only..."
"Well?"
"Well, Gawaine," he said, suddenly collapsing, "it seems that Mordred has proclaimed himself the King
of England, under this New Order of his."
"Mordred!"
"He has told his Thrasners that we are dead, you see," Arthur explained, as if it were some sort of
problem, "and..."
"Mordred says we are dead?" "He says we are dead, and тАФ" But he could not frame it. "And what?"
"He is going to marry Gwen."
There was a moment of dead silence, while the bishop's hand strayed vaguely to his pectoral cross and
Gawaine's clenched itself in the bed clothes. Then they both spoke at once.
"The Lord Protector..."
"It canna be true. It will be a jest. My brother wouldna do a thing like yon."


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"Unfortunately it is true," said the King patiently. "This is a letter from Guenever. Heaven knows how
she managed to get it through."
"The Queen's age..."
"After the proclamation, he proposed to her. She had nobody to help. The Queen accepted his proposal."
"Accepted Mordred!"
Gawaine had managed to swing his legs over the side of the bed.
"Uncle, give me the letter."
He took it out of the limp hand, which yielded it automatically, and began to read, tilting the page to the
light. Arthur continued to explain.
"The Queen accepted Mordred's proposal, and asked for permission to go to London for her trousseau.
When she was in London with the few who remained faithful, she threw herself suddenly into the Tower
and barred the gates. Thank God, it is a strong fort. They are besieging her in the Tower of London now,
and Mordred is using guns."
Rochester asked in bewilderment: "Guns?"
"He is using the cannon."
It was too much for the old priest's intellects.
"It is incredible!" he said. "To say we are dead, and to marry the Queen! And then to use cannon..."
"Now that the guns have come," said Arthur, "the Table is over. We must hurry home."
"To use cannons against men!",
"We must go to the rescue immediately, my lord. Gawaine can stay here..."
But the Laird of Orkney was out of bed.
"Gawaine, what are you doing? Lie down at once."
"I am coming with ye."
"Gawaine, lie down. Rochester, help me with him."
"My last brother has broken his fealty."
"Gawaine..."
"And Lancelot... Ah God, my head!"
He stood swaying in the dim light, holding the bandage with both hands, while his shadow moved
grotesquely round the tent pole.