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

She looked at a group of Khosali standing a short dis-
tance away. "Are those Imperials snubbing us? They stand
facing the wall."

"That is Baron Sinn and his friends. He was always
deep in conspiracy with my father. I suspect he is a spy.
He probably regrets being here at all, considering the
media attention this is getting."

"What is there here worth spying on? A provincial
planet, sufficiently far from the border to have little mili-
tary value."

"He must earn his wages somehow."

Trumpets sounded from the a-grav orchestra suspended
near me arched ceiling. People began sorting themselves
out into couples and lines. "Ah," said Maijstral, "the
Pilgrimage to the Cinnamon Temple. Will you partner
me?"'



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"Delighted, sir."

The Pilgrimage was originally a sprightly dance called
Going to Market, but eight hundred years before, during
the reign of an elderly, arthritic Emperor, the pace had
been slowed down and a more stately name applied. The
change proved to have unexpected benefits. Because the

THE CROWN JEWELS / 7

dancers changed partners frequently, the slower tread gave
everyone in the line the chance to sniff ears and exchange
introductions and witticisms—and if you were short of
witticisms, you could repeat the same one over and over
without fear of being a bore. Cinnamon Temple was,
therefore, the perfect get-acquainted dance.

The trumpet call repeated, and the dance began. Maijstral
advanced toward his partner and sniffed.

"Will you come see me tomorrow?" Nichole asked.

"I'd be delighted," he answered. She was circling him,
stately, her arm crooked to hold an imaginary market