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

star-crystals," said Glinnes. 'They haven't any other name, but they're found just like this,
facets and all, in the dust of dead stars. Nothing can scratch them, not even diamond, and they
have very peculiar optical properties." "My, how heavy they are!" "This is an antique vase, no
one knows how old. The writing on the bottom is said to be Erdish." "It's charmine!"
"Now this isn't very distinguished, just something that caught my fancy-a nut-cracker in the shape
of an Urtland crotchet. I picked it up in a junkshop, if the truth be known." "But how cunning.
It's for cracking nuts, you say?" "Yes. You put the nuts between these mandibles and press down
the tail . . . These were for Glay and Shira-knives forged from proteum. The cutting edges are
single chains of interlocked molecules-absolutely indestructible. You can strike them into steel
and they never dull." "Glay will be delighted," said Marucha in a voice somewhat stiffer than

before. "And Shira will also be pleased."
Glinnes gave a skeptical snort, which Marucha took pains to ignore. "Thank you very much for the
gifts. I think they're all wonderful." She looked out the door down across the verandah to the
dock. "Here is Glay now." Glinnes went out to stand on the verandah. Glay, coming up the path
from the dock, halted, though he showed no surprise. Then he came forward slowly. Glinnes
descended the steps and the brothers clapped each other's shoulders Glay was wearing, Glinnes
noted, not the usual Trill paray, but gray trousers and dark jacket.
"Welcome home," said Glay. "I met Young Harrad; he told me you were here." "I'm glad to be
home," said Glinnes. "With just you and Marucha, it must have been gloomy. But now that I'm here I
hope we can make the house the place it used to be." Glay gave a noncommittal nod. "Yes. Life has
been somewhat quiet And things change, certainly, I hope for the better." Glinnes was not sure he
knew what Glay was talking about. "There's a great deal to discuss. But first, I'm glad to see
you. You're looking remarkably wise and mature, and-what would be the word?- self-possessed."
Glay laughed. "When I look back, I see that I always pondered too much and tried to resolve too
many paradoxes. I've given all that up. I've cut the Gordian knot, so to speak." "How so?" Glay
made a deprecatory gesture. "It's too complicated to go into right now . . . You look well too.
The Whelm has been good for you. When must you go back?" "Into the Whelm? Never. I'm through,
since I now seem to be Squire of Rabendary." "Yes," said Glay in a colorless voice. "You've got
an- "Come inside," said Glinnes. 'Ive brought you a gift. Also something for Shira. Do you think
he's dead?" Glay nodded gloomily. "There's no other explanation." "That's my feeling. Mother
feels he's visiting friends." "For two months? Not a chance."
The two entered the house, and Glinnes brought out the knife he had bought at the Technical
Laboratories in Boreal City on Marian. "Be careful of the edge. You can't touch it without slicing
yourself. But you can hack through a steel rod without damage." Glay picked up the knife gingerly
and squinted along the invisible edge. "It frightens me." "Yes, it's almost weird. Now that
Shira's dead, I'll keep the other one for myself." Marucha spoke from across the room. "We're not
sure that Shira is dead."
Neither Glay nor Glinnes made response. Glay put his knife on the mantelpiece of smoke-darkened
old kaban. Glinnes took a seat. "We'd better clear the air about Ambal Isle." Glay leaned back
against the wall and inspected Glinnes with somber eyes. "There's nothing to say. For better or
worse, I sold it to Lute Casagave."
"The sale was not only unwise, it was illegal. I intend to void the contract."
"Indeed. How will you proceed?"
"We'll return the money and ask Casagave to leave. The process is very simple."
"If you have twelve thousand ozols."
"I don't-but you do."
Glay slowly shook his head. "No longer."
"Where is the money?"
"I gave it away."