"Simon R. Green - Nightside 1 - Drinking Midnight Wine" - читать интересную книгу автора (Green Simon R)

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 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. I 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