"Vance, Jack - Alastor 2 - Trullion-2262" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vance Jack)

his thoughts. "Shira sold Ambal Isle?" "No," said Marucha to a cool voice. "Glay and I decided to
let it go." "But. . ." Glinnes halted and chose his words deliberately. "I certainly don't want
to part with Ambal Isle, nor any other part of our land."
"I'm afraid that the sale has been effected. We assumed
rtiat vrni WPTW matin a a rareer in the Whelm and wouldn't be
home. Naturally we would have considered your feelings had we known."

Glinnes spoke politely. "I most definitely feel that we should void the contract.* We certainly
don't want to give up AMbal." "But my dear Glinnes, it's already given up." "Not after we return
the money. Where is it?" "You'll have to ask Glay." Glinnes reflected upon the sardonic Glay of
ten years before, who always had stayed aloof from the affairs of Raben-dary. That Glay should
make large decisions seemed altogether inappropriate and more, insulting to the memory of his
father Jut, who loved each square inch of his land. Glinnes asked, "How much did you take for
Ambal?" 'Twelve thousand ozols." Glinnes' voice cracked with angry astonishment. "That's giving
it away! For a beauty spot like Ambal Isle, with a manor house in good condition? Someone's
insane!" Marucha's black eyes sparkled. "Surely it's not your place to protest. You weren't there
when we needed you, and it isn't proper for you to cavil now."
"I'm doing more than cavil; I'm going to void the contract. If Shira is dead, I'm Squire of
Rabendary, and no one else has authority to sell." "But we don't know that Shira is dead,"
Marucha pointed out, sweetly reasonable. "He may only have gone off to visit friends."
Glinnes asked politely, "Do you know of any such 'friends'?" Marucha gave her shoulder a
disdainful jerk. "Not really. But you remember Shira. He has never changed." "After two months
he'd surely be home from his visit." "Naturally we hope that he is alive. In fact we can't
presume him dead for four years, which is the law*."
"But by then the contract will be firm! Why should we part with any of our wonderful land?"
"We needed the money. Isn't that reason enough?"
"You needed money for what?"
"You'll have to ask that question of Glay."
"I'll do so. Where is he?"
* By Trill law, a contract for land sale is considered provisional for a period of a year, for the
protection of both parties.
"I really don't know. He'll probably be home before too long."
"Another matter: are those Trevanyi tents down by the forest Marucha nodded. By now, neither was
making any pretense of amiability. "Please don't criticize either me or Glay. Shira allowed them
upon the property, and they have done no harm."
"Possibly not, but the year is young. You know our last experience with Trevanyi. They stole the
kitchen cutlery." "The Drossets are not that sort," said Marucha. "For Trevanyi, they seem quite
responsible. No doubt they're as honest as they find necessary." Glinnes threw up his hands.
"It's pointless to wrangle. But one last word about Ambal. Certainly Shira would never have wanted
the Isle sold. If he's alive, you acted without his authorization. If he's dead, you acted without
mine, and I insist that the contract be voided." Marucha gave a cold shrug of her slender white
shoulders. "This is a matter you must take up with Glay. I am really quite bored with the
subject." "Who bought Ambal Isler? "A person named Lute Casagave, very quiet and distinguished.
I believe that he's an off-worlder; he's much too genteel to be a Trill."
Glinnes finished his meal, then went to his baggage. "I've brought a few oddments back with me."
He gave his mother a parcel, which she took without comment. "Open it," said Glinnes. "It's for
you." She pulled the tab and drew forth a length of purple fabric embroidered with fantastic
birds in thread of green, silver and gold. "How utterly wonderful!" She gasped. "Why Glinnes-what
a delightful gift!" "That's not all," said Glinnes. He brought forth other parcels, which Marucha
opened in a rapture. Unlike the ordinary Trill, she delighted in precious possessions. "These are