"Simon R. Green - Drinking Midnight Wine" - читать интересную книгу автора (Green Simon R)

and revolution, just for the hell of it. Mostly in parts of the world where politics and
revolution are the same thing. People will rape, torture and kill each other for the most
amusing reasons, if you know the right buttons to push. I always feel most alive when
everything else is dying all around me. And I was never banned. I chose to leave, to avoid . . .
unpleasantness. I hadn't thought of dear old Bradford-on-Avon in a long time, but my father
called me back, so here I am. One doesn't say no to the Serpent.'
Angel leaned forward in her chair, suddenly interested. 'Your father. Have you ever seen
him? Do you know what he is?'
Hob frowned, and looked away, developing a sudden interest in his coffee cup. 'No. My
father is as much a mystery to me as anyone else. I don't think there's anyone now living who
knows for sure what the Serpent actually looks like. Except for dear Luna, of course. And
she's still crazy. That's what looking in the eyes of ultimate evil will do to you, even if you are
a Power or a Domination. Poor Luna. My father has never shown me his face, and I have
never been tempted to ask to see it. But sometimes he talks to me. I hear his voice, in my
mind.'
'What does it sound like?' asked Angel, sipping coffee daintily with her little finger
crooked.
'He sounds like a sword cutting through flesh. Like the sounds of children dying. Like
everything we dream of in our worst nightmares. It is not a human voice, or even a living
voice, in any way that you or I could comprehend. Though since you were once of the
immaterial . . .'
Angel scowled, and put her cup down sharply. 'I am material now, and much less than I
was. Any memories I might have had of things other than the material were taken from me.
That was part of my punishment. Or perhaps my reward. It's so hard to be sure.'
'Ah well/ said Hob. 'Easy come, easy go. All you need to know is that I follow my father's
wishes; and as long as we follow his plan, you and I will bring down both the worlds of
reality and magic, and watch as my father tramples them beneath his ancient spite. The
Serpent In The Sun will bring an end to Veritie and Mysterie, and you and I will have
ringside seats as our reward, and afterwards we shall frolic in the ruins and glory in the
damnation of our enemies.'
'You say the sweetest things,' said Angel. 'Just as long as I'm not bored. I do so hate to be
bored.'
They both looked round as the door behind them opened and Reed walked in. Hob checked
his Rolex and sniffed. 'About time you got back. Off you go and join the others in the woods.
Usual rules; if it moves and it isn't us, kill it. And don't go wandering off again, or I'll cut you
off at the ankles.'
The dead man turned and left the room, shutting the door quietly behind him. Leo let out
his breath slowly. He'd been wondering if Reed would report being followed, but it seemed
his dual nature was still protecting him.
'What was the little thunder god doing at the railway station this morning?' said Angel.
When she spoke, she sometimes put emphasis on unusual words, as though she was still
struggling to understand the subtler mechanisms of speech.
'Being a bloody nuisance, mostly,' said Hob. 'I suspect the Waking Beauty's hand in his
presence. I can hide myself from most of the higher orders, but the Waking Beauty is
something else. Even I'm not sure what. Luckily, she's never been of an active nature. Much
prefers getting some other poor fool to do her dirty work. Don't you worry about Jimmy
Thunder, Loser For Hire. The divinity's running very thin in his bloodline. If he shows his
face again, I'll rip it right off.'
'Tell me more about this Waking Beauty,' said Angel. 'Is she real, or magical?'
'Both. Neither. I don't think anyone knows. I have an uncomfortable suspicion that she's