"Jack Vance - Demon Prince 04 - The Face" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vance Jack)

only in shades of brown, with an occasional black ornament. This
group seemed innocent. Addels turned his attention to the pano-
rama: Lake Feamish to the left, Rath Eileann below, vaporous Moy
Valley to the right.. . . He frowned down at his watch. The man
whom he awaited had given precise instructions. A lack of punc-
tuality might well indicate crisis. Addels gave a sniff, to express both
envy and disdain for a way of life so much more eventful than his
own.

The time of the appointment was at hand. Addels noticed a
path which, originating at the edge of Rath Eileann far below,
slanted back and forth up the hillside, to terminate at a flight of
steps cut into the rock nearby. Up this path came a man of average
stature, unobtrusively muscular, with rather harsh cheekbones, flat
cheeks, thick dark hair cropped short. This was Kirth Gersen, of
whom Addels knew little except that by some mysterious means, no
doubt illegitimate, Gersen had come into the possession of vast
wealth.* Addels earned a large salary as Gersen's legal adviser, to
date with his scruples, such as they were, intact. Gersen seemed
well acquainted with IPCC** procedures, which in times of stress
afforded Addels a degree of nervous comfort.

Gersen ran up the steps, paused, saw Addels, and crossed the
observation deck. Addels took dispassionate note that after a climb
which would have reduced Addels to a state of gasping exhaustion,
Gersen was not even breathing deeply.

Addels performed a stately gesture of greeting. "I am pleased
to find you in good health."

"Exactly so," said Gersen. "Your journey was pleasant?"

"I was distrait; I hardly noticed," said Addels in a measured and
meaningful voice. "But certainly you are enjoying your stay at the
Domus?"

*Cf The Killing Machme

**Interworld Police Coordinating Company

1H1 DI \U)\ PRIM FS

Gersen assented "I sit in the lobby for hours absorbing the
atmosphere "

Tor this reason you remain here at Rath Eileann^'

"Not altogether This is what 1 want to discuss with you, where
\ve won't be overheard "