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

above such things. She's very old, and she never sleeps, and she knows things. Disturbing
things. I met her once . . . and she wasn't frightened of me. Unusual, that.'
'Thanks to the godling's interference, the Reality Express is no more,' said Angel. 'After
your little outburst, it will be a long time before any refugees will trust their safety to you
again. What will you do for the power you need, now that you can no longer bleed the
refugees dry?'
'I do hope I didn't detect a teeny note of criticism there, dear Angel,' said Hob, smiling with
his mouth alone. 'Never forget, I am the one who makes the decisions here, because I am my
father's voice. I will do what it pleases me to do, and I will not be questioned. As I will, so
mote it be, as dear little Aleister and I used to say in my somewhat younger days. The loss of
the Reality Express is but a trifling thing. I can always raise more dead, and send them out to
murder the living. There's a lot of power to be gained from necromancy. And the dead do
make such excellent servants; they're completely obedient and they never talk back. Bit short
in the initiative department, but that's usually all to the good. I'll empty this town's cemeteries
and send the dear departed lurching through the streets in broad daylight, if I have to. Killing
a whole bunch of people always makes me feel better.'
'Yes,' said Angel, smiling for the first time. It was a disturbing sight. To kill, to diminish
the spark of light, to destroy the Creator's work. Such things are food and drink to me. But
say the word, and I will set the town's streets awash with blood.'
Thanks for the offer,' said Hob, tactfully. 'But my father's plans don't call for us to attract so
much attention just yet.'
'Perhaps you should have thought of that before you burned all those refugees,' said Angel.
Hob looked at her, and there was something in his gaze that silenced her. 'You forget,' he
said softly. 'You forget who and what I am, little Angel. I am the only son of The Serpent In
The Sun, and this whole world, real or magical, is mine by right. I could destroy you with a
thought, and then raise you from the dead to serve me again. Get down on your knees.'
'Please,' said Angel. 'Don't.'
'Down. On your knees. Now.'
Angel rose jerkily to her feet, leaving her cup on the table. She looked stonily at Hob, and
then knelt before him.
'Now kiss my foot, little Angel,' said Nicholas Hob.
And she did.
Hob looked down at Angel's bowed head, and slowly emptied his coffee cup over it. The
hot liquid ran down her face like dark brown tears, but Angel didn't move. Hob laughed
softly. 'Get up, Heaven's droppings.'
Angel rose slowly to her feet, and sat down in her chair again. She made no move to wipe
away the coffee still dripping from her chin.
'Now, my dear,' said Hob. 'Is there anything else you feel you need to discuss with me?'
'The dead man,' Angel said slowly. 'The one who went walking into town. Could any of the
others break free, like him?'
Hob frowned, and Angel could not meet his gaze. T was distracted,' Hob said finally.
'When I lost my temper, at the station. My mind wandered for a moment, and my
concentration lapsed. It took me a while to realise that one of my slaves had slipped his leash.
But it won't happen again. I've taken steps to see to that. And as you should know, I never
give up on anything that I have made mine.'
Perhaps Leo started at that, or made a noise. Either way, Hob and Angel turned sharply in
their chairs to look at the window, and for a moment Hob and Leo looked right into each
other's eyes. It was only the barest moment, and then Leo was off and running, bolting across
the open clearing as fast as his legs could carry him. He could hear Hob shouting something
behind him, and then he was in among the dead trees and running hard. He could feel the