"Gene Wolfe - Long Sun 3 - Calde Of The Long Sun" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wolfe Gene)

Thin more substantial than a shower had blessed Viron's fields. They
could be convened to a thank offering, and he would so convert them.
Would the congregation know by then of Lemur's demise?
Quetzal debated the advisability of announcing the fact if they did
not. It was a question of some consequence and at length, for the
temporary relief the act afforded him, he pivoted his hinged fangs
from their snug grooves in the roof of his mouth, snapping each
gratefully into its socket and grinning gleefully at his distorted
image.
The rattle of the latch was. nearly lost in another crash of
thunder,
but he had kept an eye on the latchbar. There was a second and
louder rattle as Remora, on the other side of the door, contended
with the inconveniently-shaped iron handle that would, when its
balky rotation had been completed, laboriously lift the clumsy bar
clear of its cradle.
Quetzal touched his lips almost absently with his napkin; when he
spread it upon his lap again, his fangs had vanished. "Yes, Patera?"
he inquired querulously. "What is it now? Is it time already?"
"Your beef tea, Your Cognizance." Remora set his small tray on
the table. "Shall I--um--decant a cup for you? I have, er, obtained a
clean cup for the purpose."
"Do, Patera. Please do." Quetzal smiled. "While you were gone, I
was contemplating the nature of humor. Have you ever considered it?"
Remora resumed his seat. 'i fear not, Your Cognizance."
"What's become of young Incus? You hadn't expected him to be
gone so long?"
"No, Your Cognizance. I dispatched him to Limna." Remora spooned
beef salts
into the clean cup and added water from the small copper kettle he
had
brought, producing a fine plume of steam. "I am--ah--moderately
concerned. An, um, modicum of civil unrest last night, eh?" He
stirred
vigorously. "This--ah--stripling Silk. Patera Silk, alas. I know
him."
"My prothonotary told me." With the slightest of nods, Quetzal
accepted the steaming cup. "I'd have thought Limna would be safer."
"As would I, Your Cognizance. As did I."
A cautious sip. Quetzal held the hot, salty fluid in his mouth,
drawing it deliciously through folded fangs.
"I sent him in search of a--ah, um--individual, Your Cognizance.
A, er, acquaintance of this Patera Silk's. The Civil Guard is
searching for Patera himself, hey? As are, er, certain others.
Other--ah--parties. So I am told. This morning, Your Cognizance, I
dispatched still others to look for young Incus. The rain, however,
ah, necessitous, will hamper them all, hum?"
"Do you swim, Patera?"
"I, Your Cognizance? At the--um--lakeside, you mean? No. Or
at least, not for many years.