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

"My lord."
"Thank you."
As the live creature went, he called it back.
"Oh, page?"


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"My lord?"
"What is your name?"
"Tom, my lord," it said politely.
"Where do you live?" "Near Warwick, my lord." "Near Warwick."
The old man seemed to be trying to imagine the place, as if it were Paradise Terrestre, or a country
described by Mandeville.
"At a place called Newbold Revell. It is a pretty one."
"How old are you?"
"I shall be thirteen in November, my lord."
"And I have kept you up all night."
"No, my lord. I slept a lot on one of the saddles."
"Tom of Newbold Revell," he said with wonder. "We seem to have involved a lot of people. Tell me,
Tom, what do you intend to do tomorrow?"
"I shall fight, sir. I have a good bow."
"And you will kill people with this bow?"
"Yes, my lord. A great many, I hope."
"Suppose they were to kill you?"
"Then I should be dead, my lord."
"I see."
"Shall I take the letter now?"
"No. Wait a minute. I want to talk to somebody, only my head is muddled."
"Shall I fetch a glass of wine?"
"No, Tom. Sit down and try to listen. Lift those chessmen off the stool. Can you understand things when
they are said?"
"Yes, my lord. I am good at understanding."
"Could you understand if I asked you not to fight tomorrow?"
"I should want to fight," it said stoutly.
"Everybody wants to fight, Tom, but nobody knows why. Suppose I were to ask you not to fight, as a


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special favour to the King? Would you do that?"
"I should do what I was told."
"Listen, then. Sit for a minute and I will tell you a story. I am a very old man, Tom, and you are young.
When you are old, you will be able to tell what I have told tonight, and I want you to do that. Do you
understand this want?"
"Yes, sir. I think so."