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

Bysshe was still enjoying the parade of frolicking animals. He glanced at Mary. УDonТt you think, Maie, this is the very image of philosophical anarchism?Ф

УYou are welcome to it, sir,Ф said Somerset, returning from the register. УGeorge, your mastiff has injured the ostlerТs dog. He is loud in his complaint.Ф

УIТll have Ferrante pay him off.Ф

УSee that you do. And have him pistol the brains out of that mastiff while heТs at it.Ф

УInjure poor Picton?Ф George was offended. УIТll have none of it.Ф

УPoor Picton will have his fangs in the ostler next.Ф

УHe must have been teasing the poor beast.Ф

УPicton will kill us all one day.Ф Grudgingly.

УForgive us, Somerset-laddie.Ф Mary watched as George reached over to Somerset and tweaked his ear. Somerset reddened but seemed pleased.

УMr. Shelley,Ф said Captain Austen. УI wonder if you know what surprises the kitchen has in store for us.Ф

Austen was a well-built man in a plain black coat, older than the others, with a lined and weathered naval face and a reserved manner unique in this company.

УBoard Сem in the smoke! ThatТs the Navy for you!Ф George said. УStraight to the business of eating, never mind the other nonsense.Ф

У If you ate wormy biscuit for twenty years of war,Ф said Harry Smith, У youТd care about the food as well.Ф

Bysshe gave Austen a smile. УThe provisions seem adequate enough for a country inn,Ф he said. УAnd the rooms are clean, unlike most in this country. Claire and the Maie and I do not eat meat, so I had to tell the cook how to prepare our dinner. But if your taste runs to fowl or something in the cutlet line I daresay the cook can set you up.Ф

УNo meat!Ф George seemed enthralled by the concept. УDisciples of J.F. Newton, as I take it?Ф

УAmong others,Ф said Mary.

УBut are you well? Do you not feel an enervation? Are you not feverish with lack of a proper diet?Ф George leaned very close and touched MaryТs forehead with the back of one cool hand while he reached to find her pulse with the other. The monkey grimaced at her from his shoulder. Mary disengaged and placed her hands on the table.

УIТm quite well, I assure you,Ф she said.

УThe MaieТs health is far better than when I met her,Ф Bysshe said.

УMine too,Ф said Claire.

УI believe most diseases can be conquered by proper diet,Ф said Bysshe. And then he added,





УHe slays the lamb that looks him in the face,
And horribly devours his mangled flesh.Ф