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

Bustamonte was curt. "I must disoblige you."
"I make a better friend than enemy," Palafox said softly.
Bustamonte stopped short in his tracks. He nodded suddenly amiable.
"Perhaps I will reconsider. After all, the child can hardly cause trouble ....
Come along, I will take you to Beran; we will observe his reaction to the
idea."
Bustamonte marched off, rocking on his short legs. Smiling faintly,
Palafox followed.
At the portal, Bustamonte muttered briefly to the captain of the
Mamarone. Palafox, coming after, paused beside the tall black neutraloid,
let Bustamonte proceed out of earshot. He spoke, tilting his head to look up
into the harsh face.
"Suppose I were to make you a true man once more--how would you
pay me?"
The eyes glowed, muscles rippled under the black skin. The neutraloid
entrances; Mamarone stood at vigilance everywhere.
Bustamonte sat in one of Aiello's black foam chairs. He had flung a
black cloak over his shoulders, the Utter Black of a Panarch.
"I marvel at you men of Breakness," said Bustamonte. "Your daring is
remarkable! So casually do you put yourselves into desperate danger!"
Palafox shook his head gravely. "We are not so rash as we seem. No
Dominie walks abroad without means to protect himself."
"Do you refer to your reputed wizardry?"
Palafox shook his head. "We are not magicians. But we have surprising
weapons at our command."
Bustamonte surveyed the brown and gray costume which afforded no
scope for concealment. "Whatever your weapons, they are not now in
evidence."
"I hope not."
Bustamonte drew the black cloak over his knees. "Let us put ambiguity
aside."
"Gladly."
"I control Pao. Therefore I call myself Panarch. What do you say to
that?"
"I say that you have performed an exercise in practical logic. If you now
bring Beran to me, the two of us will depart and leave you to the
responsibilities of your office."
Bustamonte shook his head. "Impossible."
"Impossible? Not at all."
"Impossible for my purposes. Pao is ruled by continuity and tradition.
Public emotion demands Beran's accession. He must die, before news of
Aiello's death reaches the world."
Palafox thoughtfully fingered the black mark of his mustache. "In that
case it is already too late."
Bustamonte froze. "What do you say?"
Aiello!
Bustamonte swung upon Palafox like a small black bull. "How did the
news get abroad?"
Palafox replied with easy carelessness. "I myself released it."
Bustamonte's eyes glittered. "When did you do this? You have been