"David Brin - Fourth Vacation of George Gustaf" - читать интересную книгу автора (Brin David)

refusing to answer. Hamilton felt a thrill. One didn't run into criminal acts every day.
But the man sighed at last and answered. "I have the honor and privilege of
serving as a parttime valet to His Grace."
Hamilton suppressed a groan. They might be here all day, tracing the relationship
between the "Grand Imperial Poobah" and the "Master Gzork"--or whatever titles
they used in this ritual club.
"Could you please define the function of a... a 'valet,' Mr. Cooper?"
Cooper enunciated slowly, with a queerly old-fashioned accent. "A valet is one
who serves another as a personal aide, bodyguard, attendant, emissary... it is an
honor to so serve one of the Blood."
Hamilton caught Dan AnMan's eye. Was that bemusement on the android's
usually passive face?
Hamilton cleared his throat. "You say that as a 'valet' you 'serve' this..." He
referred to his notes. "This person you call His Grace.' Is this person a dancer?"
"No."
 "Hmmm. Well, does he have any other titles in your club?"
Cooper's eyes seemed to focus on something very far away. "His other titles are
almost innumerable, Mr. Smith. They are all legitimate and have never been secret,
though we've always avoided publicity. Now, I suppose, His Grace will have to
decide what to do next."
Hamilton had finally decided that Cooper was that rare commodity, a genuine
lunatic. He wondered if there were still bounties offered for citizens who referred
sick people to therapy.
"Well, since the titles aren't secret, could you tell us a few of them?"
"All right." Cooper bowed slightly. "His name is George Gustaf Charles
Ferdinand Louis Jaro Taisho... Well, he'll tell you the others if he wishes. You will
find him at Islington Robot Hospital, where he is chief professional psychiatrist. As
for his titles, they include the Crowns of Holland, Belgium, Norway, Denmark,
Sweden, Japan, China, Russia, Britain, large parts of Africa and the Americas--"
"Hold it!" Hamilton raised his hand.' "Mr. Cooper, just what is meant by this term
'Crown'?"
Cooper smiled for the first time. "Why, it means that in all of those lands His
Majesty is, by the grace of God and by sovereign right, king."
Cooper leaned forward and looked at Hamilton benignly.
"He is your king too, you know."



2
The nameplate read:
DR. GEORGE GUSTAF
CHIEF PROFESSIONAL
ROBOT AND ANDROID PSYCHOLOGY


Hamilton stopped before the door and adjusted the amateur researcher credential
on his lapel. He wished he had kept Dan with him instead of sending him off to the
library.
At first he had expected to find out that Gustaf was as crazy as his 'valet.' But the
man's public dossier was impeccable. In his productive Vocation he was one of the