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

textual modes of High Khosali) somehow managed to
convey the essence of the Khosali expression without actu-


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ally saying it.

Nuance, nuance. The globes, such as heard, loved it.

"How is Roman? Is he well?"

Maijstral smiled. "Roman is Roman. He'll be pleased
you asked after him, but he will be secretly pleased."

As they spoke they watched each other, listened, touched.
Explored, in their minds, possibilities. Each in search of a
conclusion, a resolution.

"He's much the same, then. And yourself?"

Maijstral cocked his head while considering the ques-
tion. "Well enough, 1 suppose."

"You're too young for ennui. That's more my line."

"Did that sound like ennui? I intended rather a becom-
ing modesty."

"You're not a modest man, Drake. Don't assume vir-

6 / WALTER JON WILLIAMS

tues you don't possess." Said lightly, but still with a touch
of vinegar. She had changed in four years-

"1 have to assume at least a few," Maijstral said, "else
I'll have none at all."

She put her free hand on his arm. "Now that's more
like the Drake Maijstral 1 remember."

The second hand on his arm was an external sign of an
inner process. She had come to a resolution regarding
Maijstral, a resolution similar to that which he had reached
himself some moments before. It was perhaps impolite,
and certainly assumed much, for him to reach such a
resolution so soon.