"Jerry Pournelle - Sword & Sceptre 1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Pournelle Jerry)

I

Despite its miserable climate, Tan-ith was an important world. It was first a convenient dumping
ground for Earth's disinherited: the rebels, criminals, malcontents, victims of administrative mistakes, and
the balance of the wretched refuse of a civilization that could no longer af-ford misfits; and it was the main
source of borloi, which the World Pharmaceutical Society called "the perfect intoxicating drug."
Few men knew that Tanith was also important because many of the borloi plantations were owned
by the CoDominium Space Navy, and profits from the drug trade were important in keeping the Fleet in
being after the Grand Senate began wholesale cuts in the Navy's bud-get.
Heat beat down on sodden fields. Two hours before the noon of Tanith's fifteen-plus hours of
sunshine the day was already hot; but all Tanith's days are hot. Even in midwinter the jungle steams in late
afternoon. In the swamps be-low the regimental camp Weem's Beasts snorted as they burrowed deeper
into protective mud. In the camp itself the air hung hot and wet, heavy, with a smell of yeast and decay.
The Regiment's camp was an is-land of geometrical precision in the random tumble of jungles and
hill-tops. Each yellow rammed-earth barrack was set in an exact rela-tionship to every other, each
com-pany set in line from its centurion's hut at one end to the senior pla-toon sergeant's at the other. A
wide street separated Centurions' Row from the Company Officers' Line, and beyond that was the
shorter Field Officers' Line, the pyramid narrowing inevitably until at its apex stood a single building
where the colonel lived. Other officers lived with their ladies, and married enlisted men's quarters formed
one side of the compound; but the colonel lived alone.
The visitor stood with the colonel to watch a mustering ceremony evolved in the days of Queen
Anne's England when regimental commanders were paid according to the strengths of their regiments,
and the Queen's mustermasters had to determine that each man draw-ing pay could indeed pass
muster—or even existed.
The visitor was an amateur histo-rian and viewed the parade with wry humor. War had changed and
men no longer marched in rigid lines to deliver volleys at word of command—but colonels were again
paid by the forces they could bring into battle.
"Report!" The adjutant's com-mand carried easily across the open parade field to the rigidly immobile
blue and gold squares.
 "First Battalion present or ac-counted for, sir!"
"Second Battalion present or ac-counted for, sir."
"Third Battalion present or ac-counted for, sir!"
"Fourth Battalion four men ab-sent without leave, sir."
"How embarrassing," the visitor said sotto voce. The colonel tried to smile but made a bad job of it.
"Artillery present or accounted for, sir!"
"Scout Troop all present, sir!"
"Sappers all present, sir!"
"Weapons Battalion, Aviation troop on patrol. Battalion present or accounted for, sir!"
"Headquarters Company present or on guard, sir!"
The adjutant returned each sa-lute, then wheeled crisply to salute the colonel. "Regiment four men
absent without leave, sir."
Colonel Falkenberg returned the salute. "Take your post."
Captain Fast pivoted and marched to his place. "Pass in re-view!"
"Sound off!"
The band played a military march that must have been old in the Twentieth Century as the Regi-ment
formed column to march around the field. As each company reached the reviewing stand the men
snapped their heads in unison, guidons and banners lowered in sa-lute, and officers and centurions
whirled sabers with flourishes.
The visitor nodded to himself. No longer very appropriate. In the Eighteenth Century demonstrations
of the men's ability to march in ranks, and of the noncoms and of-ficers to use a sword with skill, were