"John G. Hemry - Kyrie Eleison" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hemry John G)

Garvis couldn’t hide the puzzlement he felt, then an Officer behind him said
something and the First Officer’s face cleared. “Another test. Of course. Whatever
you ask we shall provide.” He nodded, his smile fading into the first traces of
uncertainty. “And then we shall be taken up?”

“Once we’ve reviewed your information we’ll be able to proceed.” Kayl
smiled reassuringly. “It’ll take a little while.”

Garvis managed another smile in return. “We have waited long already and
can surely wait longer if that is the Captain’s pleasure. We are obedient to Him.”
Once again Garvis touched his brow, a gesture mimicked first by the Officers and
Crew, and then in a more ragged fashion by the workers watching from a greater
distance. Then he waved his hand vigorously at the Second Officer, who ran off
toward the Bridge.

Francesa watched the Second Officer go, knowing he was after the population
records meticulously kept up to date and stored for safekeeping in the Bridge. Then
her eyes returned to Garvis as the First Officer swept his hand around again, this
time from the tone and volume of his voice addressing everyone in the courtyard.
“The day of Rescue has come. The obedient faithful shall be rewarded. Members of
the Watch! Pray you have enough obedience in your hearts to be among the faithful,
and send the unworthy back to their labors.”

The people making up the Watch turned and began shoving back the workers,
yelling out commands. Francesa, far enough back to avoid their attentions for a few
moments, gazed at the woman and the man Kayl, who were speaking together again.
Both of those individuals seemed troubled, though by what Francesa couldn’t guess.
Perhaps they’d expected more worthies among the people who lived here.

An arm swept toward her as a member of the Watch aimed to dislodge
Francesa from her perch. She dodged with the ease of someone who’d avoided
blows all her life, scrambling down and joining the other workers as they hastened to
their homes, occasionally looking back to the ship that sat like an impossible vision
in the courtyard, forever out of their reach.

But once the workers had cleared the courtyard, heading down the slope
toward their homes, the Watch turned back, forming a guard around the ship.
Francesa joined up with some friends, but aside from the briefest of greetings, none
of them talked. What was there to say? Finally Francesa grinned into the silence. “At
least once the First Officer leaves, I’ll never have to build his fires again.”

A hand fell upon her shoulder, momentarily shocking her with fright, but then
her father’s voice came. “There’s that, little lady. No stars for us, eh? Except the
relief that’ll come from being free of the ‘worthy.’“ A chuckle spread among the
crowd, but it held little real humor.

Francesa’s father used his hand to steer her to one side. “It’ll be dark soon,
and there’s little sense in laboring more today. Come along. You’re old enough to sit
while we talk of this.” They wended through the narrow byways of the workers’ area