Господин Барон / The Baron: Глава 10

Chapter 16

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 04:36

Eggie pulled me away from my papers half an hour later, announcing the arrival of the long-awaited committee. Cursing in a low voice at the smart-asses who kept honest people out of work, I still suppressed the urge to send someone to deal with them and to skip out on my own in the guise of work. They couldn't have caused much trouble, except to spoil it by giving the travel agencies something to complain about, but I still have to receive the honored guests in person. Increasing the prestige of the state, so to speak. So after sending him to his father, who had to prepare some paperwork for the excuse, I hurried downstairs.

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 20:49

"Welcome to Gravstein Castle! Sorry, I forgot to change. I'm used to it, not to mention it's chilly in the dungeons. So, what can I do for you?"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 20:49

There were four inspectors. A gaunt, tall man in his forties, who looked like a "Hello, Doctor"; two faintly distinguishable creatures of barely identifiable age and sex, typical social activists; and the person, the Attendant. There are similar ones among the office rats, who are nothing in themselves but are constantly trying to suck up to someone with status or to get an impressive ID, after which everything revolves around this involvement.

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 20:51

"Hello, Mr Baron. I am the Head of the Inspection Commission of the International Independent Foundation for Equal Rights Dr Konrad van..., "

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 20:52

"Aaah!" The committee members jerked sharply, looking around, and only I sighed miserably. "Must... must... die! An ancient evil is pulling me... pulling! Aaah!"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 20:54

The volunteer on the wall took uneven steps to the edge of the wall and threw himself down. Assholes, I had forbidden jumping into the safety net that had been stretched for the siege, but they said that such structures had to be checked every day, and now and then they made a 'check'! Of course, the jump is followed by an order for household chores, but they are not afraid of that anymore. This is how they change - one jumps off the wall, gets an order instead of the other, and the other pays something.

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 20:56

"Can you believe it? In broad daylight, in front of me!"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 20:56

"He... jumped from the wall?!"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 20:57

"Yeah! Hooligans!"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 20:57

Hm, they like jumping. It's a sturdy net there, designed for a man in armor. Well, why am I slowing down - it's a ready-made tourist attraction! There are even instructor enthusiasts! Or is it too dangerous? The safety regulations have also been abolished, but I put the insurance out of its requirements.

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 20:59

The volunteer, a chubby man in his thirties, entered the gate as if nothing had happened, accompanied by the applause of the guards. I nodded to him at the utility shed, and he saluted and strode off. The committee looked after him with open mouths.

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:00

"I should throw a dozen more people off the wall, see what happens... Anyway, why am I talking about business? First, about the guests - I understand you have come to check something out?"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:02

"Y-yes." Conrad glanced back at the wall; more servants were laughing, pushing each other to the edge. I had to threaten them with a fist. "There have been numerous complaints that officials of the barony and you personally have grossly violated basic human rights!"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:02

"Is that so? Well, that's interesting!"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:03

At the doctor's nod, one of the social workers, a woman, I think, opened a folder and began to list. Judging by her looks, I was, if not the spawn of the abyss and the reincarnation of Caligula, then very close.

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:04

"First and foremost - massive violations of refugees' rights!"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:04

"Do they have any special rights? We provide jobs and housing. What else?"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:05

"They are fleeing your town!"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:05

"So what does this have to do with me?"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:06

"They are fleeing from terrible treatment, there are reports that you use slave labor, prohibit national rituals, and..." The reader interrupted, looking behind me, and I had to turn around.

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:07

African was walking across the yard, dancing to inaudible music and conducting himself with a bone. On the other hand, he held a skull, apparently that of a Spaniard, and he bent down to it as if listening. The sight was strange even to Gravstein.

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:08

"Who's that?"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:08

"This is the same cannibal we are supposedly exploiting."

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:10

"Cannibal?!"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:10

"We actually prefer to say 'person with alternative gastronomic preferences' but you can't get away from the facts - he's always trying to get his teeth into someone."

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:11

"What's in his hand?"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:11

"It seems to be a human tibia. No big deal, the owner of this particular one has been dead for a long time."

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:11

"And you're just saying that?!"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:12

"What can we do, people go missing in our cellars, it's a historical fact. But most of them do, at least all of them come to dinner. Food is free for our staff, and in the federation even the dead will rise to the occasion, you know."

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:18

They did not take up the joke, glancing at the African until he disappeared around the corner.

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:18

"All right, we can consider that you have looked at the plight of slaves. If you want, you can talk to him later. He has gone to the kitchen. He prefers to stay next to the food." I remembered he scaring us in the basement the other day and added with feeling: "Goat-ass. We're wasting so much food on him! Anyway, what's next?"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:20

"Ahh... Ahem. Kidnapping and detention without trial. It has been established that you are holding several people, citizens of the Federation!"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:20

"That's a valid point. I think I can explain exactly what you are wrong about with an example."

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:30

"Alexander! Oh, I'm sorry, Your Grace, I didn't know you were busy."

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:31

"It's all right, Egilbert. Gentlemen, this is the castle steward, Mr. Egilbert von Schnitze, historian and patriot. What happened?"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:31

"The Beast, Mr. Baron! He's out again!" For some reason, everybody in the castle had got the crazy idea that I could almost persuade the big goat, and now whenever he escaped once more, everyone rushed to me. The strange thing was that there were a lot of tough guys among the volunteers, but... but it's always easier to pass the work off to the bosses. He's got nothing better to do.

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:42

City kids! Weak in the knees. So it was me and the big man Erdar who had to deal with such inappropriate business. Yet, the goat did not touch two men: the cook, for fear of being axed in the horns, and our cannibal, apparently, sensing a kindred spirit. Or maybe he just took him for one of his own by his color.

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:44

"Send someone to fetch the armor."

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:44

"Done. Just please, Alexander, take it easy! It's a special specimen, thoroughbred, a little nervous..."

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:48

"He's got the whole castle on edge with his nerves." Dan and one of the servants were already running with the armor. "What had happened again?"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:48

"Beast and Ghoul clashed, accidentally breaking the partition in the stall."

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:49

"What, they couldn't share a tourist?"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:49

"No, something different, the tour was far away at this moment."

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:50

"Well, at least it's something good."

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:55

"I beg your pardon?" Conrad pointed his finger at the armor. "What is that?"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:56

"You see, dear doctor, there is a certain animal in the castle..."

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:56

"Alexander! How can you say that about a poor animal!"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:56

"Even you agree that he is an animal! And that black brute has pissed everyone off already? If it wasn't for your stubbornness, he'd have been slaughtered a long time ago!"

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:57

"A child of nature, just a bit playful..." The steward stubbornly refused to admit that he had seriously miscalculated in his choice of leader for the castle goats.

Camrad_RIP 27.01.23 в 21:57