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

'Excuse me,' said Toby, raising his hand like a child in class. 'But I could have sworn I heard
someone mention free will just a moment ago. How does that fit in with all this talk of Something
interfering with people's destinies?'
'Oh hell,' said Gayle. 'As if things weren't complicated enough. Look; individually, you have free
will. Everyone does. But sometimes the worlds that be get a nudge, from Upstairs. And then it's up
to us how we cope with it. For example, you are a focal point, but you could still choose to
forget everything, and walk away from it.'
'And then... someone else would be the focal point?' said Toby.

'Damned if I know' said Carys. 'Focal points are tricky things. I don't think the town would
actually get hit by earthquakes, volcanoes and swarms of killer bees, all at once, but I wouldn't
rule it out either. Once you start mucking about with fate, you have to be prepared for a
backlash, and there's no telling where the psychic bricks would fall. It's like pulling one can of
beans from the bottom of the pyramid; it might collapse or it might not.'
'If you believe in fate,' said Gayle.
'I'd say it's more to the point whether fate believes in you,' said Carys. 'It doesn't matter
anyway. Toby won't walk out on you. His feelings for you won't let him.'
Toby could feel his face growing warm. 'My feelings are my own business, thank you very much.'
'Not any more they're not,' said Carys. She smiled knowingly at Gayle. 'I don't know why you're
making such a fuss. You've had mortal paramours before.'
'And every single one of them came to a bad end,' said Gayle. 'They might start out loving me, but


file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/Sim...side%201%20-%20Drinking%20Midnight%20Wine.txt (39 of 118) [10/16/2004 5:28:20 PM]
 file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/Simon%20R.%20Green%20-%20Nightside%201%20-%20Drinking%20Midnight%20Wine.txt

they all end up worshipping me, and I hate that. I haven't taken a mortal lover in more years than
I care to remember. I got tired of them dying on me. I hope you're paying attention to this,
Toby.'
'Hell,' said Toby. 'I'm taking notes.'
Gayle shook her head. 'We are going to change the subject, right now. Let us talk instead of
Nicholas Hob.'
'If we must,' said Carys. 'Nasty little toad. The Serpent's Son is back in Bradford-on-Avon, and
has taken up residence at Blackacre. Only fitting, I suppose. It's the only place in town that's
as corrupt as he is. No one knows what's brought him back after all these years, but he's taken
the woman Angel as his companion.' She paused, and looked at Toby. 'Nicholas Hob is the Serpent's
only living offspring, a product of rape and horror in the early days of the world. Hob's almost
as bad as his father, but luckily he's trapped in human form, which limits the damage he can do.
Angel used to be an angel. The whole wings-and-halo bit. Demoted to the material worlds for a
crime the likes of which you and I can only guess at. So we're now faced with two beings, both
powerful enough to tear this town apart at the seams on a whim, even before they joined forces.
And you're still not convinced fate is stirring things?'
'I don't think I feel very well,' said Toby. 'Every time I turn around the odds get worse. I could
shoot an albatross and not get luck like this.'
'Aren't I worth it?' said Gayle.
Toby sniffed. 'I'm thinking about it. Trust me, I'm thinking about it.'
There's more,' said Carys.
'Surprise, surprise.' said Gayle. 'Hit me with it.'
'You've seen the news. There are stirrings in the sun, solar flares leaping out to caress the
world. The Serpent is flexing his muscles. He's planning something. Hob and Angel are his chosen