"Dickson, Gordon - Call Him Lord" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dickson Gordon R)

the slope.
". . . And one more thing," said the Prince, as they entered
the farther belt of pine trees. "I don't want you to be misled
I'm really very fond of old Monty, back there. It's just that I
wasn't really planning to come here at allLook at me,
Body guard!"
Kyle turned to see the blue eyes that ran in the Imperial
family blazing at him. Then, unexpectedly, they softened. The
Prince laughed.
"You don't scare easily, do you, Bodyguard... Kyle, I
mean?" he said. "I think I like you after all. But look at me
when I talk."
"Yes, Lord."
"That's my good Kyle. Now, I was explaining to you that
I'd never actually planned to come here on my Grand Tour at
all. I didn't see any point in visiting this dusty old museum
world of yours with people still trying to live like they lived in
the Dark Ages. Butmy Imperial father talked me into it."
"Your father, Lord?" asked Kyle.
"Yes, he bribed me, you might say," said the Prince
thoughtfully. "He was supposed to meet me here for these
three days. Now, he's messaged there's been a'slight delay
but that doesn't matter. The point is, he belongs to the school
of old men who still think your Earth is something precious
and vital. Now, I happen to like and admire my father, Kyle.
You approve of that?"
"Yes, Lord."
"I thought you would. Yes, he's the one man in the human
race I look up to. And to please him, I'm making this Earth
trip. And to please himonly to please him, KyleI'm going
to be an easy Prince for you to conduct around to your
natural wonders and watering spots and whatever. Now, you
understand meand how this trip is going to go. Don't you?"
He stared at Kyle.
"I understand," said Kyle.
"That's fine," said the Prince, smiling once more. "So now
you can start telling me all about these trees and birds and
animals so that I can memorize their names and please my
father when he shows up. What are those little birds I've been
seeing under the treesbrown on top and whitish under-
neath? Like that onethere!"
"That's a Veery, Lord," said Kyle. "A bird of the deep
woods and silent places. Listen" He reached out a hand to
the gelding's bridle and brought both horses to a halt. In the
sudden silence, off to their right they could hear a silver
bird-voice, rising and falling, in a descending series of cr&-
scendos and diminuendos, that softened at last into silence. For
a moment after the song was ended the Prince sat staring at
Kyle, then seemed to shake himself back to life.
"Interesting," he said. He lifted the reins Kyle had let go