"Walter Jon Williams - Wall, Stone, Craft" - читать интересную книгу автора (Williams Walter John)

УThey will buy the swords every time,Ф George said. УThey are useful in ways other than suppressing disorder, such as securing trade routes and the safety of the nation.Ф He put on a benevolent face. УYou must forgive me, but your view of humanity is too benign. You do not account for the violence and passion that are in the very heart of man, and which institutions such as law and religion are intended to help control. And when science serves the passions, only tragedy can resultЧwhen I think of science, I think of the science of Dr. Guillotin.Ф

УWe are fallen,Ф said Captain Austen. УEden will never be within our grasp.Ф

УThe passions are a problem, but I think they can be turned to good,Ф said Bysshe. УThat isЧФ He gave an apologetic smile. УThat is the aim of my current work. To use the means of poetry to channel the passions to a humane and beneficent aim.Ф

УI offer you my very best wishes,Ф condescendingly, Уbut I fear mankind will disappoint you. Passions areЧФ George gave Mary an insolent, knowing smile. УЧare the downfall of many a fine young virtue.Ф

Mary considered hitting him in the face. Bysshe seemed not to have noticed GeorgeТs look, nor MaryТs reaction. УMr. Godwin ventured the thought that dreams are the source of many irrational passions,Ф he mused. УHe believes that should we ever find a way of doing without sleep, the passions would fall away.Ф

УAy!Ф barked George. УThrough enervation, if nothing else.Ф

The others laughed. Mary decided she had had enough, and rose.

УI shall withdraw,Ф she said. УThe journey has been fatiguing.Ф

The gentlemen, Bysshe excepted, rose to their feet. УGood night, Maie,Ф he said. УI will stay for a while, I think.Ф

УAs you like, Bysshe.Ф Mary looked at her sister. УJane? I mean Claire? Will you come with me?Ф

УOh, no.Ф Quickly. УIТm not at all tired.Ф

Annoyance stiffened MaryТs spine. УAs you like,Ф she said.

George bowed toward her, picked a candle off the table, and offered her an arm. УMay I light you up the stair? I should like to apologize for my temerity in contradicting such a charming lady.Ф He offered his brightest smile. УI think my poor virtue will extend that far, yes?Ф

She looked at him coldlyЧshe couldnТt think it customary, even in GeorgeТs circles, to escort a woman to her bedroom.

Damn it anyway. УMy lord,Ф she said, and put her arm through his.

Jerome Bonaparte made a flying leap from the table and landed on GeorgeТs shoulder. It clung to his long auburn hair, screamed, and made a face, and the others laughed. Mary considered the thought of being escorted up to bed by a lord and a monkey, and it improved her humor.

УGoodnight, gentlemen,Ф Mary said. УClaire.Ф

The gentlemen reseated themselves and George took Mary up the stairs. They were so narrow and steep that they couldnТt go up abreast; George, with the candle, went first, and Mary, holding his hand, came up behind. Her door was the first up the stairs; she put her hand on the wooden door handle and turned to face her escort. The monkey leered at her from his shoulder.

УI thank you for your company, my lord,Ф she said. УI fear your journey was a little short.Ф

УI wished a word with you,Ф softly, Уa little apart from the others.Ф

Mary stiffened. To her annoyance her heart gave a lurch. УWhat word is that?Ф she asked.

His expression was all affability. УI am sensible to the difficulties that you and your sister must be having. Without money in a foreign country, and with your only protector a manЧФ He hesitated. Jerome Bonaparte, jealous for his attention, tugged at his hair. УA charming man of noble ideals, surely, but without money.Ф

УI thank you for your concern, but it is misplaced,Ф Mary said. УClaire and I are perfectly well.Ф

УYour health ainТt my worry,Ф he said. Was he deliberately misunderstanding? Mary wondered in fury. УI worry for your futureЧyou are on an adventure with a man who cannot support you, cannot see you safe home, cannot marry you.Ф

УBysshe and I do not wish to marry.Ф The words caught at her heart. УWe are free.Ф