Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 15
EverywherethewanderingmembersofthegreatPeddlers’Guildcarriedwordofme,ofmycomingsandgoingsanddoings,toChongMong-juatKeijo.Onlytwice,inallthedaysaftermydownfall,didImeetChongMong-jufacetoface.ThefirsttimewasawildwinternightofstorminthehighmountainsofKang-wun.AfewhoardedcoppershadboughtfortheLadyOmandmesleepingspaceinthedirtiestandcoldestcorneroftheonelargeroomoftheinn.Wewerejustabouttobeginonourmeagresupperofhorse-beansandwildgarliccookedintoastewwithascrapofbullockthatmusthavediedofoldage,whentherewasatinklingofbronzeponybellsandthestampofhoofswithout.Thedoorsopened,andenteredChongMong-ju,thepersonificationofwell-being,prosperityandpower,shakingthesnowfromhispricelessMongolianfurs.Placewasmadeforhimandhisdozenretainers,andtherewasroomforallwithoutcrowding,whenhiseyeschancedtolightontheLadyOmandme.
“Theverminthereinthecorner—clearitout,”hecommanded.
Andhishorse-boyslasheduswiththeirwhipsanddroveusoutintothestorm.Buttherewastobeanothermeeting,afterlongyears,asyoushallsee.
Therewasnoescape.NeverwasIpermittedtocrossthenorthernfrontier.NeverwasIpermittedtoputfoottoasampanonthesea.
