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

Quetzal swung his head back and forth. "That Lemur was still
alive, Patera. There are rumors. So it would appear. He wanted me
to denounce them this afternoon."
"But if Councillor Loris--ah--assures--"
"Clearly Lemur's dead. If he weren't, he'd speak to me in person.
Or show himself at the Juzgado. Or both."
 "Even so, Your Cognizance--"
Another crash of thunder made common cause with Quetzal's
thin hand to interrupt.
"Can the Ayuntamiento prevail without him? That's the question,
Patera. I want your opinion."
To give himself time to consider, Rernora sipped his now tepid
tea. "Munitions, the--ah--thews of contention, are stored in the
Alambrera, as well as in the, um, cantonment of the Civil Guard,
cast of the city."
"I know that."
"It is an, er, complex of great--um--redoubtability, Your
Cognizance. I am informed that the outer wall is twelve cubits
in--ah--laterality. Yet Your Cognizance anticipates its surrender
tonight? Before venturing an opinion, may I enquire as to the
source of Your Cognizance's information?"
"I haven't any," Quetzal told him. "I was thinking out loud. If
the
Alambrera doesn't fall in a day or so, Patera Calde Silk will fail.
That's my opinion. Now I want yours."
"Your Cognizance does me honor. There is also the--um--dormant
army
to consider. Councillor Lemur--ah--Loris will undoubtedly issue
an--ah--call to arms, should the, um, situation,
in his view, become serious."
"Your opinion, Patera."
Remora's cup rattled in its saucer. "As long as the--ah--fidelity
of
the Civil Guard remains--um--unblemished, Your Cognizance," he
drew a deep breath, "it would appear to me, though I am assuredly
no--um--master hand at matters military, that--ah, um--Patera
Calde cannot prevail."
Quetzal appeared to be listening only to the storm; for perhaps
fifteen tickings of the coffin-shaped clock that stood beside the
door, the howling of the wind and the lash of rain filled the room.
At last he asked, "Suppose that you were to learn that part of the
Guard's gone over to Silk already?"
Remora's eyes widened. "Your Cognizance has--?"
"No reason to think so. My question's hypothetical."
Remora, who had much experience of Quetzal's hypothetical
questions, filled his lungs again. "I should then say, Your Cogni
zance, that should any such unhappy circumstance--ah--circumstances
eventuate, the city would find itself amongst--ah--perilous
waters."
"And the Chapter?"