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

determined the cause of death?"
The first of the three doctors bowed. "The Panarch succumbed to
poison. It was administered by a sting-missile, thrust into the left side of his
throat. The poison..." He consulted the dials, the shadow-graphs and color-
wheels of an analyzer into which his colleagues had inserted samples of
Aiello's body-fluids. "The poison appears to be a mepothanax derivative,
extin most probably."
"In that case," said Bustamonte, and his gaze swung from the huddle of
Mercantil traders to the grave Lord Palafox, "the crime was committed by
someone in this room."
Sigil Paniche diffidently approached the corpse. "Allow me to examine
this sting."
The chief doctor indicated a metal plate. Here rested the black sting with
its small white bulb.
Sigil Paniche's face was strained. "This object is that which I glimpsed
in the hand of the Medallion, no more than a few moments ago."
Bustamonte succumbed to rage. His jowls went pink, his eyes swam
with fire. "This accusation from you--a Mercantil swindled You accuse the
lad of killing his father?"
Beran began to whimper; his head wobbled from side to side. "Quiet,"
hissed Bustamonte. "The nature of the deed is clear!"
"No, no," protested Sigil Paniche, and all the Mercantil stood blanched
and helpless.
"There is no room for doubt," Bustamonte stated inexorably. "You came
to Pergolai aware that your duplicity had been discovered. You were
thumb--the traditional death-signal of the Paonese. He called to the
commander of the Mamarone. "Subaqueate these creatures!" He glanced
into the sky; the sun was low. "Make haste, before sundown!"
Hurriedly, for a Paonese superstition forbade killing during the hours of
darkness, the Mamarone carried the traders to a cliff overlooking an arm of
the sea. Their feet were thrust into ballasted tubes, they were flung out
through the air. They struck the water, sank, and the surface was calm as
before.
Twenty minutes later, by order of Bustamonte, the body of Aiello was
brought forth. Without ceremony it was weighted and cast after the
Mercantil. Once again the sea showed a quick white blossom of foam; once
again it rolled quiet and blue.
The sun hovered at the rim of the sea. Bustamonte, Ayudor-Senior of
Pao, walked with nervously energetic steps along the terrace.
Lord Palafox sat nearby. At each end of the terrace stood a Mamarone,--
fire-sting aimed steadily at Palafox, to thwart any possible act of violence.
Bustamonte stopped short in front of Palafox. "My decision was wise--I
have no doubt of it!"
"What decision is this?"
"In connection with the Mercantil."
Palafox considered. "You may now find trade relations difficult."
"Pah! What do they care for the lives of three men so long as there is
profit to be obtained?"
"Very little, doubtless."
"These men were cheats and swindlers. They deserved no more than