"Walter Jon Williams - The Crown Jewels" - читать интересную книгу автора (Williams Walter John)

had a glass stuck in one eye, and was one of three hundred
humans who bore only a single name. His skin was black,
his ruffles and boots scarlet.

"Etienne," said Maijstral.

"Maijstral. How delightful."

Formally they sniffed each other's ears. A waxed musta-
chio point jabbed Maijstral's cheek. "Still in mourning, I
see," said Etienne.

"My father's still dead," said Maijstral.




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They spoke in High Khosali. Most humans managed the
strange intonation and nasal vowels easily enough, but it
took training to make proper use of the shifting syntax
wherein the structure of each sentence makes a comment
on the previous sentence, paragraph, or idea, and in one

THE CROWN JEWELS / 3

difficult parsing even makes a relation of the subject of the
conversation to the state of the universe as a whole.

"I remember hearing the news about your father a year
or so ago. There's no hope of recovery, I assume?"

"I'm afraid not. He sends me frequent letters complain-
ing about his condition.'*

"The dead can be a burden, I'm sure. But mourning
suits your figure well, Maijstral."

"Thank you. You look elegant, as always. Though I'm
not sure the eyeglass suits you. 1 don't think you're old
enough for such a major affectation."

Etienne lowered his voice. "It's cosmetic, I'm afraid.
Pearl Woman challenged me on Heath Minor and ran me
through the eye. My boot slipped, damn it. There are still
a few bruises around the implant." He paused a moment,
as if troubled. "You hadn't heard?"