Название: The Painted Man
Автор: Peter Brett V.
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Героическая фантастика
isbn: 9780007287758
isbn:
âWhat do I want with that list, or your mailbag?â Rusco asked.
âThe Speaker is occupied, and wonât be able to distribute the mail and read to those that canât. She volunteered you.â
âAnd how am I to be compensated for spending my business hours reading to the townies?â Rusco asked.
âThe satisfaction of a good deed to your neighbours?â Ragen asked.
Rusco snorted. âI didnât come to Tibbetâs Brook to make friends,â he said. âIâm a businessman, and I do a lot for this town.â
âDo you?â Ragen asked.
âDamn right,â Rusco said. âBefore I came to this town, all they did was barter.â He made the word a curse, and spat on the floor. âThey collected the fruits of their labour and gathered in the square every Seventhday, arguing over how many beans were worth an ear of corn, or how much rice you had to give the cooper to make you a barrel to put your rice in. And if you didnât get what you needed on Seventhday, you had to wait until the next week, or go door to door. Now everyone can come here, any day, any time from sunup to sundown, and trade for credits to get whatever else they need.â
âThe town saviour,â Ragen said wryly. âAnd you asking nothing in return.â
âNothing but a tidy profit,â Rusco said with a grin.
âAnd how often do the villagers try to string you up for a cheat?â Ragen asked.
Ruscoâs eyes narrowed. âToo often, considering half of them canât count past their fingers, and the other half can only add their toes to that,â he said.
âSelia said the next time it happens, youâre on your own,â Ragenâs friendly voice had suddenly gone hard, âunless you do your part. Thereâs plenty on the far side of town suffering worse than having to read the mail.â
Rusco frowned, but he took the list and carried the heavy bag into his storeroom.
âHow bad is it, really?â he asked when he returned.
âBad,â Ragen said. âTwenty-seven so far, and a few still unaccounted for.â
âCreator,â Rusco swore, drawing a ward in the air in front of him. âI had thought a family, at worst.â
âIf only,â Ragen said.
They were both silent for a moment, as was decent, then looked up at each other as one.
âYou have this yearâs salt?â Rusco asked.
âYou have the Dukeâs rice?â Ragen replied.
âBeen holding it all winter, you being so late,â Rusco said.
Ragenâs eyes narrowed.
âOh, itâs still good!â Rusco said, his hands coming up suddenly, as if pleading. âIâve kept it sealed and dry, and there are no vermin in my cellar!â
âIâll need to be sure, you understand,â Ragen said.
âOf course, of course,â Rusco said. âArlen, fetch that lamp!â he ordered, pointing the boy towards the corner of the bar.
Arlen scurried over to the lantern, picking up the striker. He lit the wick and lowered the glass reverently. He had never been trusted to hold glass before. It was colder than he imagined, but quickly grew warm as the flame licked it.
âCarry it down to the cellar for us,â Rusco ordered. Arlen tried to contain his excitement. He had always wanted to see behind the bar. They said if everyone in the Brook put all their possessions in one pile, it would not rival the wonders of Hogâs cellar.
He watched as Rusco pulled a ring on his floor, opening a wide trap. Arlen came forward quickly, worried old Hog would change his mind. He went down the creaking steps, holding the lantern high to illuminate the way. As he did, the light touched on stacks of crates and barrels from floor to ceiling, running in even rows stretching back past the edges of the light. The floor was wooden to prevent corelings from rising directly into the cellar from the Core, but there were still wards carved into the racks along the walls. Old Hog was careful with his treasures.
The storekeeper led the way through the aisles to the sealed barrels in the back. âThey look unspoiled,â Ragen said, inspecting the wood. He considered a moment, then chose at random. âThat one,â he said, pointing to a barrel.
Rusco grunted and hauled out the barrel in question. Some people called his work easy, but his arms were as hard and thick as any that swung an axe or scythe. He broke the seal and popped the top off the barrel, scooping rice into a shallow pan for Ragen to inspect.
âGood Marsh rice,â he told the Messenger, âand not a weevil to be seen, nor sign of rot. This will fetch a high price in Miln, especially after so long.â Ragen grunted and nodded, so the cask was resealed and they returned upstairs.
They argued for some time over how many barrels of rice the heavy sacks of salt on the cart were worth. In the end, neither of them seemed happy, but they shook hands on the deal.
Rusco called his daughters, and they all went out to the cart to begin unloading the salt. Arlen tried lifting a bag, but it was far too heavy, and he staggered and fell, dropping it.
âBe careful!â Dasy scolded, slapping the back of his head.
âIf you canât lift, then get the door!â Catrin barked. She herself had one sack over her shoulder and another tucked under her meaty arm. Arlen scrambled to his feet and rushed to hold the portal for her.
âFetch Ferd Miller and tell him weâll pay five ⦠make it four credits for every sack he grinds,â Rusco told Arlen. Most everyone in the Brook worked for Hog, one way or another, but the Squarefolk most of all. âFive if he packs it in barrels with rice to keep it dry.â
âFerd is off in the Cluster,â Arlen said. âMost everyone is.â
Rusco grunted, but did not reply. Soon enough the cart was empty, save for a few boxes and sacks that did not contain salt. Ruscoâs daughters eyed those hungrily, but said nothing.
âWeâll carry the rice up from the cellar tonight and keep it in the back room until youâre ready to head back to Miln,â Rusco said, when the last sack was hauled inside.
âThank you,â Ragen said.
âThe Dukeâs business is done, then?â Rusco asked with a grin, his eyes flicking knowingly to the remaining items on the cart.
âThe Dukeâs business, yes,â СКАЧАТЬ