"Liz Williams - Ikiryoh" - читать интересную книгу автора (Williams Liz)

Through the taller humans, the kappa could get a glimpse of the start of the procession: a lion-dog,
prancing. At first she thought the kylin was composed of another set of costumed people, but then she
realized that it was real. Its eyes rolled golden, the red tongue lolled. The child's grip on the kappa's hand
became painful.

"Don't worry,― the kappa said. “See—it is on its lead.― The kylin's handlers strained behind it,
laughing and shouting out to one another as it tossed its magnificent mane. Behind it came a litter, borne
on the shoulders of four beings that were a little like kappa, but larger and more imposing. Heavy, glossy
shells covered their backs. They lumbered along, smiling beneath their load. All of these beings—the
turtle bearers, the kylin, the tiger-women—all were the genetic property of the palace itself. No one else
could breed or own such folk, unlike the commonplace kappa, who had been bred so long ago for
menial work in the factories and paddy fields of Malay. The kappa remembered people like this from her
own days in the palace; remembered, too, what was said to have taken place behind closed doors for
the amusement of the goddess Than Geng and her guests. The kappa had not mourned Than Geng in the
slightest, but the rumors were that I-Nami was worse.

"Our goddess is coming,― someone said softly behind her. There were murmurs of approval and
excitement. If only they knew, thought the kappa. But it had always been the way of things. She looked
up at the litter, which was drawing close. The curtains were drawn, and now I-Nami herself was leaning
out, waving to the crowd. Her oval face had been painted in the traditional manner: bands of iridescent
color gliding across her skin. Her great dark eyes glowed, outlined in gold. The very air around her
seemed perfumed and sparkling. Surprised, the kappa took a step back. Illusion and holographics,
nothing more, and yet she had never seen anyone who so resembled a goddess.

"She is so beautiful!― a woman said beside the kappa, clapping her hands in excitement.

"Yes, she is,― the kappa said, frowning.

"And she has been so good to us."

"Really?― The kappa turned, seeking the knowing smile, the cynical turn of the mouth, but the woman
seemed quite sincere.

"Of course! Now, it is safe to walk the streets at night. She came to my tenement building and walked up
the stairs to see it for herself, then ordered the canal to be cleaned. Now we have fresh water and power
again. And there is food distribution on every corner for the poor, from subsidized farms. Things are so
much better now."

There were murmurs of agreement from the crowd. Startled, the kappa looked down at the child.
“Did you hear that?"

But the child's face was a mask of fainting horror. Her eyes had disappeared, rolling back into her head
until only a blue-white line was showing, and a thin line of spittle hung from her mouth. She sagged in the
kappa's grip. Without hesitating, the kappa picked her up and shoved through the crowd to an empty
bench. She laid the child along it. The ikiryoh seemed barely conscious, muttering and cursing beneath
her breath.

"What's wrong?― the kappa cried, but the child did not reply. The kappa shuffled back to the crowd
as fast as she could and tapped a woman on the shoulder. “I need a healer, a doctor—someone!"