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In the meantime Algali came back to their room it was time to wrap up. Elandar, having turned into a refined gentleman again, amused his companions with a fresh joke, complained about urgent business forcing him to abandon this pleasant company ( No, Baron, by no means should you accompany me; better spend another ten minutes or so here with Algali ), filled their glasses from a pocket flask ( To our success, Baron! This is real Elvish wine, nothing like the swill they sell at Elfstone, believe me ), drank the dark ruby liquid in a single draught, put the half-mask back on his face and headed out. Tangorn and Algali sat across from each other in silence for a couple of minutes, the untouched goblets like border markers on the table between them. Dear Elandar is making sure I m not following him, the baron thought lazily. I wonder if mister junior secretary knows that I can get out of this restaurant any minute through the restroom window? He could, although that s unlikely& The thing is I don t need it any more. What a rotten trick did I play on you, lad, he thought suddenly when he met the childishly open gaze of the carrier of unsuitable information. Maybe that s why the Higher Powers have turned away from me? Now it turns out that I swam in that indelible muck with you and the guy at 4 Lamp Street for no good reason. I played a trick on you, they played one on me; as usual, the gods have the last laugh. You know, I ll sit here for a while longer, but you should make legs as fast as you can, if you value your life. Your Elvish friends have sentenced you to death. I suggest using the restroom window someone your size will squeeze through with no difficulty. Even if I believed you, the youth answered disdainfully, I would not have accepted salvation from you. Really? Why? Because you are an Enemy. You fight on the side of Darkness, so your every word is a lie, and your every deed is evil by definition. You re mistaken, lad, Tangorn sighed wearily. I m on neither the Dark nor the Light side. If you need a label, I m on the side of many colors. 199 The Last Ring-bearer There is no such side, Baron, Algali bit out, and his eyes flashed. The Battle of Battles is coming, Dagor-Dagorlad, and everybody yes, everybody! will have to make a choice between Light and Dark. Whoever is not with us is against us! That s a lie such a side exists, very much so. Tangorn was not smiling any more. If I m fighting for anything, it s for this precious Dagor-Dagorlad of yours to never happen. I m fighting for the right of those of many colors to remain such without getting dragged into this total mobilization of yours. And speaking of Light and Dark I suppose your master represents the Light? He s my Teacher, not my master! Fine. Now look at this. With these words he took a piece of white quartz-like stone attached to a silver chain out of his pocket. This is an Elvish poison detector ever seen one? When immersed into their goblets, the stone gave off an ominous purple light. Judging by the color, this poison works in about half an hour. All right, I m an enemy, but is poisoning one s Pupil a tradition of the forces of Light? Tangorn never expected what happened next: Algali snatched the nearest goblet, raised it to his lips and drained it before the baron could grab his arm. You re lying! The youth s face became pale and inspired, filled with otherworldly exultation. And if not, then so what: it means that it s necessary to our Cause. Thank you, lad, the baron said after a minute s stupor. You don t even know how much you just helped me& He headed to the exit without saying goodbye, but paused at the door for one last look at the doomed fanatic. Scary to even think of what will happen to Middle Earth should these boys prevail. Maybe I didn t play my part too well, but at least I played for the right team. & Jacuzzi mustered enough self-control not to hang out in front the Green Mackerel himself, relying on the pros from the surveillance team. Neither Tangorn s contact with the Elvish underground nor the identity of his interlocutor concerned the Vice-Director of DSD at the moment. He knew that the fates of both the Republic and himself hinged on one thing only: Tangorn s next destination. Will he go right or left, to the port or to New Town? He knew that but could do nothing about it, so all he did was pray to all the gods he knew: to the One, to the Sun-faced, to the Unnamed, even to Eru-Ilúvatar of the northern barbarians and to Udugvu the Great Snake. What else could he do? So when he finally heard: The target has left the restaurant heading to New Town, his first thought was: which one of them had listened to my prayers? Or perhaps God is, indeed, one, and it s just that He has different cover stories and code names for different countries? The surveillance team leader reported, concerned: The streets are already empty while the target is very careful. Tracking him will be exceedingly difficult& 200 The Last Ring-bearer & and not really necessary, Jacuzzi finished for him and laughed; the Vice-Director knew with certainty now that Fortune was on his side, and the anticipation of victory sweeter even than victory itself filled him to bursting. Pull back all surveillance and tell the capture team to switch to Plan B. Chapter 53 Umbar, 7 Jasper Street Night of June 27, 3019 Jasper Street was deserted at night, but the habit of checking for a tail was impossible to [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ] |
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