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

fish, but very well indeed. Or I did."
"I'm pleased to hear it, Your Cognizance."
"The jokes of gods are long in telling. That's why you ought to
sift
the records of the past on Hieraxdays, Patera. Today's Hieraxday.
You'll learn to think in new and better ways. Thank you for my beef
tea. Now go."
Remora rose and bowed. "As Your Cognizance desires."
His Cognizance stared past him, lost in speculation.
Greatly daring, Remora ventured, "I have often observed that
your own way of thinking is somewhat--ah--unlike, as well as much
more, um, select than that of most men."
There was no reply. Remora took a step backward. "Upon every--
ah--topic
whatsoever, Your Cognizance's information is quite, um, marvelous."
"Wait." Quetzal had made his decision. "The riots. Has the
Alambrera fallen?"
"What's that? The Alambrera? Why--ah--no. Not to my
knowledge, Your Cognizance."
"Tonight." Quetzal reached for his beef tea. "Sit down, Patera.
You're always jumping about. You make me nervous. It can't be
good for you. Lemur's dead. Did you know it?"
Remora's mouth gaped, then snapped shut. He sat.
"You weren't. It's your responsibility to learn things."
Remora acknowledged his responsibility with a shamefaced nod.
"May I inquire, Your Cognizance--?"
"How I know? In the same way I knew the woman you sent Incus
after had gone to Lake Limna with Patera Calde Silk."
"Your Cognizance!"
Once again, Quetzal favored Rernora with his lipless smile. "Are
you afraid I'll be arrested, Patera? Cast into the pits? You'd be
Prolocutor, presumably. I've no fear of the pits." Quetzal's long-
skulled,
completely hairless head bobbed above his cup. "Not at my
age. None."
"None the less, I implore Your Cognizance to be more--ah--
circumspect."
"Why isn't the city burning, Patera?"
Caught by surprise, Remora glanced at the closest window.
"Mud brick and shiprock walls. Timbers supporting upper floors.
Thatch or shingles. Five blocks of shops burned last night. Why isn't
the whole city burning today?"
"It's raining, Your Cognizance," Remora summoned all his courage.
"It's been raining--ah--forcibly since early this morning."
"Exactly so. Patera Calde Silk went to Limna on Molpsday with a
woman. That same day, you sent Incus there to look for an
acquaintance of his. A woman, since you were reluctant to speak of
it. Councillor Loris spoke through the glass an hour before lunch."
Remora tensed. "He told you Councillor Lemur was no longer
among us, Your Cognizance?"