"Jack Vance - The Languages of Pao" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vance Jack)

himself, his aides coming to stand at his back.
Panarch Aiello spoke an off-hand greeting; the Mercantile responded in
broken Paonese.
Aiello toyed with a bowl of brandied fruit, appraising the Mercantil.
"Pao and Mercantil have traded for many centuries, Sigil Paniche."
The Mercantil bowed. "We fulfill the exact letter of our contracts--this
is our creed."
Aiello laughed shortly. "Trade with Pao has enriched you."
"We trade with twenty-eight worlds, Supremacy."
Aiello leaned back in his chair. "There are two matters I wish to discuss
with you. You have just heard our need for water on Impland. We require
an installation to demineralize an appropriate quantity of ocean-water. You
may refer this matter to your engineers.
"I am at your orders, sir."*
*--------------------*
The Paonese and Mercantil languages were as disparate as the two ways
of living. The Panarch, making the statement, "There are two matters I wish
to discuss with you," used words which, accurately rendered, would read:
"Statement-of-importance (a single word in Paonese)--in a state of
readiness--two; ear--of Mercantil--in a state of readiness; mouth--of this
person here--in a state of volition." The italicized words represent suffixes
of condition.
equipment.
Sigil Paniche bowed agreement. With no outward sign or change, he
suddenly seemed uneasy. "We fulfilled the exact requirements of your
order."
"I cannot agree with you," Aiello responded.
Sigil Paniche became stiff; his words were even more formal than
before, "I assure Your Supremacy that I personally checked delivery. The
equipment was exactly as described in order and invoice."
Aiello went on in his coldest tones. "You delivered sixty-four* barrage
monitors, 512 patrol flitters, a large number of multiple resonators,
energetics, wasps and hand-weapons. These accord with the original order."
"Exactly, sir."
"However, you knew the purpose behind this order."
Sigil Paniche bowed his copper-bright head. "You refer to conditions on
the planet Batmarsh."
"Just so. The Dolberg dynasty has been eliminated. A new dynasty, the
Brumbos, have assumed power. New Batch rulers customarily undertake
military ventures."
"Such is the tradition," agreed the Mercantil.
"You have supplied these adventurers with armament"
Sigil Paniche once again agreed. "We sell to any who will buy. We have
done so for many years--you must not reproach us for this."
Aiello raised his eyebrows. "I do not do so. I reproach you for selling us
standard models while offering the Brumbo Clan equipment against which
you guarantee we will be powerless."
Sigil Paniche blinked. "What is the source of your information?"
"Must I divest myself of every secret?"
*--------------------*