The Last Days Of The Edge Of The World Read Online Free PDF

antiquity, you must realize, is bound to be very strong on tradition. It isn’t an insult. I think that we must, in all honour and with all dignity, accept.”
    The prime minister finished his speech with a small bow. Whenever he thought that he had made an especially fine speech he finished it thus. He was particularly proud of this one because he had done it, so to speak, off the cuff.
    The king writhed on the throne. It was not a very comfortable throne, and he had often considered getting rid of it and replacing it with a nice armchair, but somehow the idea always seemed slightly absurd when he got to the point of being about to mention it to someone else, and he never did.
    “I don’t know,” muttered the king. He had been impressed by Coronado’s speech, but his rages always took a while to wear off.
    “I’m not so sure that this is a good idea anyway,” said Damian. “It seems to me we’re taking a lot for granted. How do we know that his deal will do any of us any good. That old man looks pretty useless to me. I don’t see how he’s going to save the kingdom.”
    “If nothing else,” put in Alcover, “he’s got assets. Those porcelain dragons are worth more than a little, and that collection of clocks contains some priceless antiques. I calculate that to maintain the staff we saw last night and to keep a house the size of Moonmansion running smoothly he must have a budget of at least a thousand a week. That doesn’t sound much, but when you consider that he has no income at all, and must be living on his capital, or the interest it earns–-“
    “With all due respect to Alcover,” said Bellegrande, “the enchanter’s household budget is neither here nor there. What matters is his magic. And that he has in abundance. You may not have noticed, but I overheard some of those footmen in communication, and I assure you that they spoke no language I’ve ever heard before, it’s my belief they’re supernatural creatures enslaved by his enchantment. That is real power.”
    “He sets a very good table,” rumbled Hallowbrand. ‘A man who sets a good table is a good man to have on our side. That’s what I always say.” It did not take an intellectual giant to see which way the current of opinion was flowing. That was perhaps as well, as one thing Damian was not was an intellectual giant.
    “Honestly!” complained the prince. “Anyone would think that the wizard had you all under a spell or something. You’re all so keen to deliver me into his witch-daughter’s clutches. No one cares what I think. And in any case, what makes you think I’ll be able to answer her stupid questions?”
    There was a slightly uncomfortable silence. The ministers exchanged significant glances. The last question was most definitely an awkward one.
    “If I may make a suggestion…” said Hallowbrand tentatively.
    All eyes turned upon him. He shifted his great bulk from one foot to the other. “Your majesty has a most adequate library,” he continued. “We may not have it long, but it is still here. And there is a youth engaged in the business of cataloguing it so that the university at Heliopolis can make an offer for it. This youth comes from Jessamy—the son of an instrument-maker—and he has been attending the university on a grant which the government gave to him. It seems, you see, that this boy is of exceptional intelligence and aptitude. With the whole library at his disposal____”
    “Are you suggesting,” said Rufus Malagig IV, “that Damian should cheat?”
    “Not at all,” said Coronado, stepping in hurriedly. “It is hardly cheating if the prince makes use of the…er … research facilities at his disposal. I think that the boy might well be regarded, for the time being, as… an extension of the library services. He will, after all, only be assisting the prince.”
    The king thought about it for a few moments, then nodded. He was realistic enough to know that there was no other way that the