"Gene Wolfe - Queen v1.0" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wolfe Gene)

Gene Wolfe
Queen
Contents
Queen

Biography
 Queen
It was late afternoon when the travelers reached the village. The taller of the two led the way to the well,
and they sat there to wait as travelers do who hope that someone will offer them a roof for the night. As it
chanced the richest man in the village hurried by, then stopped, compelled by something he glimpsed in
their faces. Something he could not have explained.

"I'll be back this way quite soon," he told them. "We have a room for guests, and can offer you a good
supper."

The taller thanked him. "We were only hoping for directions. What is the name of your village?"

The richest man told him.

"We have come to the right place, then." He named the old woman.

"She's poor," the richest man said.

They said nothing: it was as though they had not heard.

"She hasn't a lot. Are you relatives? Maybe you could buy something and take it to her, then she could
cook it for you. A lamb."

"Where does she live?" the taller asked.

"Over there." The richest man pointed. "At the edge of the village." He hesitated. "Come with me. I'll
show you."

They followed him, walking side by side so silently that he looked behind him thinking they might have
gone. Neither had a staff. That seemed strange; he tried to recall when he had last seen a traveler who
had no staff to help him walk, no staff to defend his life, if defense of life were needed.

The old woman was still at her spinning, which surprised him. She let them in and invited them to sit. The
travelers did, but he did not, saying, "There are things I have to do. I only brought them here because
they didn't know the way, didn't know how to find your house. Are they relations of yours?"

She shook her head.

"Do you know them? It might not be safe."

She considered, her head to one side, remembering. "I think I know that one. Or perhaps not. It's been
so long."

"You're not going to hurt her, I hope?" the richest man asked. "She has nothing."