"Zelazny, Roger - Creatures Of Light And Darkness" - читать интересную книгу автора (Zelazny Roger)

УYouЕ?Ф
УI told you that I would give you a name, which is a different thing altogether.Ф
УBut I thoughtЕФ
УI do not care what you thought. Do you want a name?Ф
УYes, MasterЕФ
УЕ But you would prefer your old one? Is that what you are trying to say?Ф
УYes.Ф
УDo you really think that anyone would remember your name after ten centuries? Do you think that you were so important in the Middle Worlds that someone would have noted down your name, that it would have mattered to anyone?Ф
УI do not know.Ф
УBut you want it back?Ф
УIf I may have it, Master.Ф
УWhy? Why do you want it?Ф
УBecause I remember nothing of the Worlds of Life. I would like to know who I was when I dwelled there.Ф
УWhy? For what purpose?Ф
УI cannot answer you, because I do not know.Ф
УOf all the dead,Ф says Anubis, Уyou know that I have brought only you back to full consciousness to serve me here. Do you feel this means that perhaps there is something special about you?Ф
УI have often wondered why you did as you did.Ф
УThen let me give you ease, man: You are nothing. You were nothing. You are not remembered. Your mortal name does not signify anything.Ф
The man lowers his eyes.
УDo you doubt me?Ф
УNo, MasterЕФ
УWhy not?Ф
УBecause you do not lie.Ф
УThen let me show it I took away your memories of life only because they would give you pain among the dead. But now let me demonstrate your anonymity. There are over five thousand of the dead in this room, from many ages and places.Ф
Anubis stands, and his voice carries to every presence in the Hall:
УAttend me, maggots! Turn your eyes toward this man who stands before my throne! ЧFace them, man!Ф
The man turns about.
УMan, know that today you do not wear the body you slept in last night. You look now as you did a thousand years ago, when you came into the House of the Dead.Ф
УMy dead ones, are there any of you here present who can look upon this man and say that you know him?Ф
A golden girl steps forward.
УI know this man,Ф she says, through orange lips, Уbecause he spoke to me in the other hall.Ф
УThat I know,Ф says Anubis, Уbut who is he?Ф
УHe is the one who spoke to me.Ф
УThat is no answer. Go and copulate with yon purple lizard. ЧAnd what of you, old man?Ф
УHe spoke to me also.Ф
УThat I know. Can you name him?Ф
УI cannot.Ф
УThen go dance on yonder table and pour wine over your head. ЧWhat of you, black man?Ф
УThis man also spoke with me.Ф
УDo you know his name?Ф
УI did not know it when he asked meЧФ
УThen burn!Ф cries Anubis, and fires fall down from the ceiling and leap out from the walls and crisp the black man to ashes, which move then in slow eddies across the floor, passing among the ankles of the stopped dancers, falling finally into final dust.
УYou see?Ф says Anubis. УThere is none to name you as once you were known.Ф
УI see,Ф says the man, Уbut the last might have had further wordsЧФ
УTo waste! You are unknown and unwanted, save by me. This, because you are fairly adept at the various embalming arts and you occasionally compose a clever epitaph.Ф
УThank you, Master.Ф
УWhat good would a name and memories do you here?Ф
УNone, I suppose.Ф
УYet you wish a name, so I shall give you one. Draw your dagger.Ф
The man draws the blade which hangs at his left side.