"Shadow of Makei" - читать интересную книгу автора (Burkitt John H., Morris David A.)

 CHAPTER 2: ILL TIDINGS

Kambra’s ears twitched. She bowed her front legs and wagged her tail playfully. “Come get me if you’re big enough!”

Gur’bruk laughed. He sprang forward, flailing at her with his paws. Kambra blocked him with effortless skill, seeking an advantage. The moment she saw an opening in his defense, she bounded up and put her forearms around his neck, trying to force him to the ground.

Gur’bruk and Kambra were so in tune that their contests ended in draws. Still, Kambra managed to catch him off guard, and with a mighty shove of her back legs pushed him to the grass where she pinned him, panting and laughing.

“Let me up!”

“No!”

“Let me up, Kambra! You won, all right?”

“It’s not that simple. Do you want to surrender?”

“What are your terms?”

“Does it matter? You’re stuck.”

“Good point. So how much is this going to cost me?”

She gazed into his beautiful hazel eyes, then rubbed his face with hers. “You beautiful thing, I want to bear your children.”

“I’ll have to think about that,” he said with mock coldness.

He took advantage of her momentary surprise, and with a quick thrust of his paw easily pushed her off. She fell to the grass and looked up at him pleadingly. The time for games was clearly over.

He gently nuzzled her recumbent form as she lay in the grass, then he settled down next to her with his head resting gently on her side. “Kambra, why ask me for something you already have? You know my heart is yours. It’s only a matter of time till you have the rest of me.”

“When, Gur’bruk? When?”

He laughed softly. “You name the time, my little play toy.”

“Oh Gur’bruk!” She reached lovingly with her paw and began to fondle his handsome face and neck. “Is tonight too soon?”

She looked at him quietly for an answer, and his feelings were clear to her. She drew comfort from his warm affection and held him close to her. “What did I do to deserve such happiness? I love you so much. More than life itself!”

He smiled and closed his eyes. “Kambra, our love is life itself. I was born on the day you first loved me, and I will die on the day you stop.”

“Then you will live forever.”

The boughs of the acacia tree hovered over them protectively, dappling the lovers with light and shadow. A mild wind caressed them with its cooling embrace, and they soon drifted into a contented sleep. Theirs was a happiness without blemish. As the poet La’kresh said:

Suddenly a hot wind from the east swept over them like an angry hand. Kambra stirred and opened her eyes. She saw her sister Shimbekh approaching, her gait burdened with sadness and her eyes dark with worry.

Quietly, gently, Kambra eased out from beneath Gur’bruk’s head and pillowed him lovingly in the soft grass. She ran on silent pads to intercept Shimbekh.

“Sis, we were in the middle of our nap. Can’t this wait?”

“Come with me.”

Gravely, Shimbekh slinked away out of hearing range. She led Kambra into the shadow of some bushes.

“Now what’s wrong? You look terrible, Sis.”

Shimbekh looked away, afraid to meet Kambra’s eyes. “I love you, Kambra. If the wild dogs came, I would be first in line to die for you.”

“And I would die for you. But you didn’t come out here to talk about dogs.”

Shimbekh took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I just had an awful vision.” She hung her head. “It’s so terrible!”

“Is it Gur’bruk? Is he in danger?”

“Not Gur’bruk.” She kissed and nuzzled Kambra. “Sis, forgive me!”

“Well, out with it!”

Shimbekh moaned. “If you marry Gur’bruk, you will bring forth a son who will be the downfall of our people.”

“What??”

Shimbekh bent her head lower and moaned. “Sis, believe me! I have carried this thorn in my heart for hours--hellish hours when I wished I could die, just die! I could not bring myself to speak it, but if I am silent I will betray my own people and you as well!”

“Shimbekh, you’ve had a nightmare. That’s all!” Kambra kissed Shimbekh and smiled coyly. “Everything’s going to be fine, Honey Tree. Don’t you think I would have been warned? Why would the gods put that burden on you?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps you couldn’t believe it.”

“I DON’T believe it--it’s just a dream! That’s all it could be, for it doesn’t make sense.” Kambra began to pace around nervously. “Gur’bruk is good, and our love is pure and deep. Our children will be born from love, raised to love and follow God. I’m sorry to see you upset you, Sis, but I’m going to marry Gur’bruk this very night.”

“But you can’t! Oh gods, you just can’t!”

“Shimbekh! I just can, and I just will. Now I know how you love Gur’bruk, but he does not love you! I’m very disappointed in you, Sis--I didn’t think you would try something like this, not with your own sister!”

“It’s not my jealousy speaking! I swear! Oh gods, how I wept over this--wept tears of blood!” She rolled miserably on the ground. “Kambra, I love you, and I want you to be happy, even if it is with him! Look in my eyes! Look and see for yourself!”

Kambra studied Shimbekh’s eyes. Her hard set jaw relaxed and her expression changed to concern. She nuzzled Shimbekh.

“I’m sorry I doubted you. I believe you had a bad dream, and I believe it seemed very real. But you must understand that it’s your love for him talking. I don’t hold that against you, really I don’t.”

“But it’s not a dream! I was awake! You have to warn him!”

Kambra became cross again. “Look here, Sis, you better not breathe a word of this to ANYONE else, ESPECIALLY my Gur’bruk.” She tried to calm down. “Wait and see our children. You’ll see. If there was some danger, love could overcome it. Now we’ll be doubly sure to love them every chance we get.”

“I know what I saw!”

Kambra raised up sternly. “Go home, Shimbekh! Leave us alone!”

“I love you, Kambra!”

“I love you too, but right now I’m upset. Go, Shimbekh! Go home!” She bared her teeth. “Go home before I say something I’ll regret!”

“I’m scared, Sis.” Shimbekh slinked away, sobbing. “Please don’t hate me! Please! I’m so scared!”