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

under constant surveillance."
"We Breakness dominie," said Palafox, "are not without subterfuge."
The voice from the wall droned on. "Acting under the orders of Panarch
Beran, the Mamarone have efficiently subaqueated the responsible
criminals. Ayudor Bustamonte is serving Beran with wholehearted loyalty,
and will help maintain equilibrium."
Bustamonte's fury seethed to the surface. "Do you think you can thwart
me by such a trick?" He signaled the Mamarone. "You wished to join
Beran. So you shall--in life and, at tomorrow's first light, in death."
The guards were at Palafox's back. "Search this man!" cried
Bustamonte. "Inspect him with care!"
The guards subjected Palafox to a most minute scrutiny. Every stitch of
his clothes was examined; he was patted and prodded with complete lack of
regard for dignity.
Nothing was discovered; no tool, weapon or instrument of any kind.
Bustamonte watched the search in unashamed fascination, and seemed
disappointed at the negative result.
"How is this?" he asked scornfully. "You, a Wizard of Breakness
Institute! Where are the devices, the infallible implements, the mysterious
energetics?"
Palafox, who had submitted to the search without emotion, replied in a
pleasant voice, "Alas, Bustamonte, I am not at liberty to answer your
questions."
Bustamonte laughed coarsely. He motioned to the guard. "Take him to
confinement."
heed. Palafox made a small twitch, the neutraloids cried out and sprang
away from him.
"What's this?" cried Bustamonte, jumping to his feet
"He burns! He radiates fire!"
Palafox spoke in his quiet voice, "As I say, we will not meet again on
Pao. But you will need me, and Aiello's bargain will seem very reasonable.
And then you must come to Breakness." He bowed to Bustamonte, turned
to the guards. "Come, now we will go."
laugh. Beran was sure that they were laughing at him, at the miserable
finale to his existence. Tears rose to his eyes, but, in the fashion of Paonese
children, he made no other show of emotion.
There was a sound at the door. The lock whirred, the door slid back. In
the opening stood two neutraloids, and, between them, Lord Palafox.
Beran came hopefully forward--but the attitudes of the three halted him.
The neutraloids shoved Palafox forward. The door whirred shut. Beran
stood in the center of the room, crestfallen and dejected.
Palafox glanced around the room, seeming instantly to appraise every
detail. He put his ear to the door, listened, then took three long elastic
strides to the window. He looked out. Nothing to be seen, only stars and
surf. He touched his tongue to a key area on the inside of his cheek; an
infinitesimal voice, that of the Eiljanre announcer, spoke inside his inner
ear. The voice was excited. "Word has reached us from Ayudor
Bustamonte on Pergolai: serious events! In the treacherous attack upon
Panarch Aiello, the Medallion was likewise injured, and his survival is not
at all likely! The most expert doctors of Pao are in constant attendance.