Asimov, Isaac Robots in Time 5 Emperor

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The Mongol clapped him on the shoulder. Wine and food for all of
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us, he called to the innkeeper in his accented Chinese. Your best.
The innkeeper bowed deeply and rushed away.
The Mongol leader led the group to the table closest to the fireplace
and gestured for them all to sit down.
15
Steve sat down with the Mongols, smiling at each one with a nod of
greeting. When he got the chance, he would ask the innkeeper to take
Marcia s dinner up to her. Right now, he felt it was wise not to remind
the Mongols that she was up there.
What is your name? The Mongol pointed to himself. I am Timur.
Steve.
Ss teve. The sound is unusual to me. But of course, my Chinese is
not so good.
The other Mongols introduced themselves in turn, but Steve could not
understand the unfamiliar names he heard. He decided not to ask
that they repeat them. Instead, he simply nodded again courteously.
So, you must be a rider, said Timur.
Not like you are. I saw you from the gate, riding on maneuvers. I
could never ride that well.
I am curious about you, Steve. I never met a Chinese man who had
bothered to learn our language before. Tell us more about this other
breed of horse.
Uh, well, the Arabians were bred to the southern deserts, at low
altitude, near the sea. Steve was no expert on the history of Arabians,
so he dropped that approach. My best horse had a sharp, delicate
nose and a small body. She was very hardy. I remember, she never
even seemed to notice if the wind was blowing up a sandstorm or if it
was raining. All weather was the same to her.
A sandstorm? Timur asked. You rode her in the desert, then?
Well, yes.
This must have been the same time when you learned our language,
eh?
Yes, it was. Steve hesitated, glad to see the innkeeper come
hurrying out with a piece of candle and wine and wine cups. A
younger man followed him with bowls of noodles and strips of meat.
Steve did not want to be drawn into questions about how he had
learned to speak Mongol. As soon as the innkeeper had lit the candle
and poured wine for them all, Steve lifted a cup. I toast my new
friends.
Ah! Timur grinned and held up his own. His friends joined in and
they all drank.
Before Timur could ask more questions about Steve s experience
among Mongols in the desert, Steve turned to one of the other
Mongols. Tell me about your experiences in the battalion. Have you
fought anyone recently?
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No, I have not had the chance. The man shook his head as he
started eating.
We are too young, all of us, said Timur. We missed the great wars
of conquest by the khakhan, which were finished before we came of
age.
But we are ready, said another, and eager for the chance. We must
prove ourselves every day and hope that our battalion will be sent to a
distant land someday,
It would be very exciting, Steve said carefully, as he began eating his
own dinner. He tried to think of another question that would keep the
conversation away from his own life. You re off duty tonight? Why
isn t the whole battalion coming to drink? Only a few of you came
through the gate.
Timur laughed. No, no, you don t understand. Those of us who came
through the gate all have sentry duty tonight, to begin when the
torches are doused and the camp sleeps. We have some free time
before then.
I see.
The Mongols ate and drank eagerly, without speaking further. Steve
decided he could take the time to eat his own dinner. Timur s
curiosity about him seemed satisfied.
Everyone finished eating without more comment. Steve hoped he
could take some food up to Marcia soon, but that would have to wait
until the Mongols had left. However, Timur leaned back with another
cup of wine and looked up at Steve.
Which tribe did you ride with? Timur asked.
Steve froze. He thought he remembered Marcia mentioning
something about Mongol tribes, but he could not recall what she had
said. Maybe he was mistaken about that.
What s wrong? Timur studied his face.
I, uh, rode with friends. That s all.
Friends? But you must have lived on the grasslands, didn t you? If
you rode out in the desert at times.
I was a loner.
Timur shrugged. About these Arabian horses. Can they carry a man
day and night, across deserts and mountains? When we are on the
march, we push our horses to the point of dropping, but they carry us
where they must.
Steve almost asked him how he would know, since he had never been
to war, but he knew better. It would only anger them. I am sure you
have the finest horses in the world. Everyone knows that.
Timur nodded, and drained his wine cup. We must return to the
camp to begin sentry duty. He glanced at his companions. And no
mention of how much Chinese wine we have drunk, eh? He grinned
at Steve. The punishment for falling asleep on watch is death.
Steve wasn t sure how to respond to that, so he said nothing. When
the Mongols rose from their chairs, he did, too. Timur tossed some
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coins to the innkeeper.
Farewell on your travels, Steve. Show us one of those horses one day
if you can or maybe we ll ride to Arabia and see them for ourselves!
He laughed and led his companions out of the inn.
Farewell, Steve called after them. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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