"Walter Jon Williams - Prayers on the Wind" - читать интересную книгу автора (Williams Walter John)

demon, and soon people were warning others about the demon in the bush."
"Delusion," said !urq.
"It was delusion," Jigme agreed. "But it was not delusion when the hat grew arms, legs, and teeth, and
when it began chasing people up and down the Kampa La. The Ministry of Magic had to send a naljorpa
to perform a rite of ch├╢d and banish the thing."
!urq's antennae gave a meditative quiver. "People see what they want to see," she said.
"The delusion had incarnated itself. The case is classic: the Ministries of Science and Magic performed
an inquiry. They could trace the patterns of energy through the crystal structure of the Library: the power
of the growing belief, the reaction when the belief was fulfilled, the dispersing of the energy when ch├╢d
was performed." Jigme gave a laugh. "In the end, the naljorpa brought back an old, weathered hat. Just
bits of fur and leather."
"The naljorpa got a good reward, no doubt," said !urq, "for bringing back this moldy bit of fur."
"Probably. Not my department, actually."
"It seems possible, here on Vajra, to make a good living out of others' delusions. My government
would not permit such things."
"What do the people lose by being credulous?" Jigme asked. "Only money, which is earthly, and that
is a pitiful thing to worry about. It would matter only that the act of giving is sincere."
!urq gave a toss of her head. "We should continue up the mountain, Rinpoche."
"Certainly." Jigme kicked his pony into a trot. He wondered if he had just convinced !urq that his
government was corrupt in allowing fakirs to gull the population. Jigme knew there were many ways to
Enlightenment and that the soul must try them all. Just because the preacher was corrupt did not mean his
message was untrue. How to convince !urq of that? he wondered.
"We believe it is good to test oneself against things," !urq said. "Life is struggle, and one must remain
sharp. Ready for whatever happens."
"In the Parinibbana-sutra, the Blessed One says that the point of his teaching is to control our own
minds. Then one can be ready."
"Of course we control our minds, Rinpoche. If we could not control our minds, we would not achieve
mastery. If we do not achieve mastery, then we are nothing."
"I am pleased, then," Jigme smiled, "that you and the Buddha are in agreement."
To which !urq had no reply, save only to launch herself savagely at the next climb, while Jigme
followed easily on his cloven-hoofed pony.
The scent of incense and flowers filled the Gyalpo Rinpoche's giant yellow tent. The Treasured King,
a silk khata around his neck, sat in the lotus posture on soft grass. The bottoms of his feet were stained
green. Ambassador !urq stood ponderously before him, lower lip thrust forward, her four arms in a
formal stance, the Incarnation's knotted scarf draped over her shoulders.
Jigme watched, standing next to the erect, angry figure of Dr. O'Neill. He took comfort from the
ever-serene smile of Miss Taisuke, sitting on the grass across the tent.
"Ambassador Colonel, I am happy you have joined us on holiday."
"We are pleased to participate in your festivals, Omniscient," said !urq. "The spring flowers are lovely,
are they not? It's worthwhile to take a whole week to enjoy them. In so doing, we remember the words
of Shakyamuni, who tells us to enjoy the blossoms of Enlightenment in their season and harvest the fruit
of the right path."
"Is there a season, Omniscient, for discussing the matter of Gyangtse?"
Right to the point, Jigme thought. !urq might never learn the oblique manner of speech that
predominated at the high ministerial levels.
The Incarnation was not disturbed, "Surely matters may be discussed in any season," he said.
"The planet is desirable, Omniscient. Your settlement violates our border. My government demands
your immediate evacuation."
Dr. O'Neill's breath hissed out at the word demand. Jigme could see her ears redden with fury.
"The first humans reached the planet before the border negotiations were completed," the Incarnation