JК
Burnt Offerings :: Гамильтон Лорел
Страница: 280 из 286She seemed to take it almost resignedly. What seemed to surprise her most was the fact that I didn't kill them both where they stood. But I had other plans for them. They'd insulted the pack. It would be pack justice. That was sort of a group activity. Maybe we'd invite the wererats and have a cross species jamboree.
When they were led away, a silence so deep and wide that it thundered in the ears filled the room. Yvette stepped into that silence. She was smiling and lovely, fresh and beautiful on Jason's blood and our mingled power.
"Jean-Claude must still answer for his traitorous ways," she said.
"What are you babbling about?" the Traveler said.
"My master, Morte d' Amour, has accused him of trying to start another council in this country. A council that will steal our power and make us but laughable puppets."
The Traveler waved it away. "Jean-Claude is guilty of many things but that is not one of them."
Yvette smiled, and the smile was enough. She was going to say something bad. "What say you, Padma? If he is a traitor, then we can execute him for it. He can be an example to all others who would dare usurp the council's power."
Padma was still on the ground, cradled in the arms of his two servants. He still wasn't feeling too good. He stared at our little group. We were still huddled on the floor, too. The six of us were not going to be dancing tonight. The look in Padma's eyes said it all. I'd humiliated him, scared the hell out of him, and forced him to give up his only son to sure death. He smiled, and it wasn't pretty. "If they are traitors, then they must be punished."
"Padma," the Traveler said, "you know this is false."
"I did not say they were traitors, Traveler. I said if they were traitors. If they are traitors, then they must be punished. Even you must agree to that."
"But they are not traitors," the Traveler said.
"I use my master's proxy to call a vote," Yvette said. "I think I know what three of the votes will be."
Asher came to stand near Jean-Claude and us. "They are not traitors, Yvette. To say so is a lie."
"Lies are very interesting things. Don't you think. . Harry?" She held out her hand as if it were a signal and Harry the bartender joined her. I didn't think I could be surprised anymore tonight. I was wrong.
"I see that you know Harry," Yvette said.
"The police are looking for you, Harry," I said.
"I know," he said. At least he had trouble meeting my eyes. Didn't make me feel much better, but a little.
When they were led away, a silence so deep and wide that it thundered in the ears filled the room. Yvette stepped into that silence. She was smiling and lovely, fresh and beautiful on Jason's blood and our mingled power.
"Jean-Claude must still answer for his traitorous ways," she said.
"What are you babbling about?" the Traveler said.
"My master, Morte d' Amour, has accused him of trying to start another council in this country. A council that will steal our power and make us but laughable puppets."
The Traveler waved it away. "Jean-Claude is guilty of many things but that is not one of them."
Yvette smiled, and the smile was enough. She was going to say something bad. "What say you, Padma? If he is a traitor, then we can execute him for it. He can be an example to all others who would dare usurp the council's power."
Padma was still on the ground, cradled in the arms of his two servants. He still wasn't feeling too good. He stared at our little group. We were still huddled on the floor, too. The six of us were not going to be dancing tonight. The look in Padma's eyes said it all. I'd humiliated him, scared the hell out of him, and forced him to give up his only son to sure death. He smiled, and it wasn't pretty. "If they are traitors, then they must be punished."
"Padma," the Traveler said, "you know this is false."
"I did not say they were traitors, Traveler. I said if they were traitors. If they are traitors, then they must be punished. Even you must agree to that."
"But they are not traitors," the Traveler said.
"I use my master's proxy to call a vote," Yvette said. "I think I know what three of the votes will be."
Asher came to stand near Jean-Claude and us. "They are not traitors, Yvette. To say so is a lie."
"Lies are very interesting things. Don't you think. . Harry?" She held out her hand as if it were a signal and Harry the bartender joined her. I didn't think I could be surprised anymore tonight. I was wrong.
"I see that you know Harry," Yvette said.
"The police are looking for you, Harry," I said.
"I know," he said. At least he had trouble meeting my eyes. Didn't make me feel much better, but a little.