"Williams, Paul O - Pelbar 01 - The Breaking of Northwall" - читать интересную книгу автора (Williams Paul O)

"The tattoo. The tattoo. I don't understand. Where did
he get that? We send him east to be educated, a great op-
portunity, and he returns rangy and wild, and late, and
tattooed with the snake sign of savages. From NorthwaII
all we get is silence, enigma, messages from Sentani, hints
of fraternization with Shumai, the murderers." The Jestana
muttered this as she toiled downward around the curve of

stairs.

"What tattoo?" asked the shorter guard. "You mean that
Jestak has the mark of the Sentani? How is that possible?"

"I don't know, Din. I only saw it once, when the family
sent him to NorthwaII as punishment for his waste of the
years in the east. It is all very strange. He has not been any
credit to his family, surely. He has become different, inde-
pendent. But he is not a nobody. He took reticence even
though they put him to scrubbing for it. He keeps his own
counsel. He has been through a great deal, that is clear. He
is like no Pelbar I have ever knownЧthough I remember
when he was as much a Pelbar as any of us. That day he
left on the eastern track, what he had been vanished with
him. When he finally returnedЧtwo years lateЧhe was

another man."

"He was gone, then, six years?"

"Yes, almost. He would not give any details about what
happened. All the family knew was that he did not leam
the law he was sent, at great expense, to leam. He knew
some, surely. But not what was needed to open any trade
with Innanigan or Stanigan. So we remain in this waste,
trading with savages onlyЧwhen we can do thatЧand
shut off from the ancient learning."

"We have our own. I always have felt your family was
wrong in this desire."

"Yes. Everyone has been through that."

"Isn't it time we all knew what went on with Jestak? The
Jestan have been too close-mouthed about it. NorthwaII
has been incredibly silent. It is not good to divide ,us, espe-
cially now, Tanbar."

"I am not at liberty to tell all the Pelbar the business of
the Jestan, Din. However, I will tell you what I can, with
the understanding that it be kept in confidence."