"Adams, Robert - Horseclans 01 - The Coming of the Horseclans" - читать интересную книгу автора (Adams Robert)

Swimmer shuddered again. "He must be a monster."

"No, Swimmer, just of another race. Few of his people can communicate with your kind. To them you are just animalsЧdangerous animals."

Deeply shaken, the adolescent feline crouched close to Milo, who stroked his head soothingly. "Are two-leg Blackhairs pursuing us, Horsekiller?"

"Yes, Friend Milo, but it will be night before they are near to this place."

"How many two-legs?"

"As many as a clanЧmales and females and cubs. Some on horses, some on two-wheels. Far behind them are many clans without horses, but they and the two-wheels are a long run south of this place on the flat-way."

So, Milo mused, it's as I thought. The chariots and the infantry are sticking to the roadЧwhat was Route 250, six hundred years ago. Even so, it may be a tight race. Laden with the loot and the slaves, we'll be hard put to outrun their cavalry. What I should do is dump the packs and the women here, but if I did, there'd be hell to pay. The men fought hard and well for this booty and won't give it up easily.

"Horsekiller, if you leave now, how long will it take you to reach tribe-camp?"

"One of your time periods, maybe less."

"Then go. Go fast, both of you. Horsekiller, go to Lord Bili of Esmith. Tell him that I said to ride at once with all his males and as many others as he can gather quickly. Then leave Swimmer to guide them. As for you, gather the CatsЧas many as are not on dutyЧget them battle-armed, and speed back to me. Damn that cavalry! Why couldn't they have stayed on the road as well?"

Chapter 3

Clanswomen shall be taught the skills of war, To draw bow and to cast the spear afar; For valiant woman, valiant horse, and valiant man Do live and die in honor of their clan.

ЧFrom "The Couplets of the Law"

As the two giant cats sped westward, Milo strode among the sleepers, nudging them into wakefulness. Few words were required; the worry on his face said enough. Those who had removed their cuirasses re-donned them, then slapped saddles to horses. Once Steeltooth was saddled and accoutered, Milo assisted with the captured animals. With amazing speed, the little column was again underway, the captives' wrists lashed to pommel or packsaddleЧ all, save Mara; for some reason, Milo believed her, didn't think that she would try to escape. She rode beside him, astride dead Djimi Kahrtr's horse, her long hair stuffed under the late scout's peaked helmet.

This time they bore southwest toward the road. On it, they would make far better tune than cross-country and, now, speed was more important than concealment. It had been a 50-50 chance that all the pursuers would adhere to the road hi which case Milo might have swung wide to the north and missed the pursuit entirely. Dropping to the tail, he urged the riders on. He had lost his gamble, but had no intention of losing more than that.

It had been midday when they struck camp. The sun was low on the horizon when Milo sighted his objective. About three hundred years after what Milo thought of as the Two-Day War, there had been an earthquake of considerable proportions somewhere in the Eastern Ocean. This section of the piedmont, though not visited by the tidal waves which had devastated the seaboard, had been racked by sympathetic quakes. Now a result of this geologic turmoil confronted themЧa sixty-foot-high upthrust of earth and rock and ancient asphalt shards, thickly grown with trees and undergrowth. The original path of the road bisected its hundred yard length, and the Sea-invaders had laid their replacement road under its thickly forested southern brow.

Milo waited until his party had rounded it before he halted them.

"Kindred, Blackhair cavalry rides close behind. After them are war-carts and spearmen. Just before we rode again, I sent Horsekiller and Swimmer to fetch help from the tribe, but it will take time for them to reach us. Saving this booty means much to you who fought for it and more to the clans of our kindred who died. Therefore, some must continue west, while the others of us delay the Black-hairs. Since we will not be enough to fight them sword-to-sword, I shall only take the bow-masters. The others leave your quivers behind. Now, ride!" Milo turned and led his nine bow-masters into the forest that fringed the hill. They had ridden but twenty yards when the pitch abruptly mounted, too steep for the horses. Mentally enjoining thek steeds to silence, the nomads dismounted, took their bows and quivers, and started to pick a way to the slope which overlay the road.

Burdened with several extra arrow cases, Milo was about to follow his men, when he heard two riders galloping from the west. He quickly nocked a shaft and crouched just below the hill. Careless of the low-hanging branches, Mara clattered into view, close-pursued by one of the booty-guard nomads, his saber out.

Milo stood and Mara leaped from her mount and raced to stand before him.

"What hi hell... ?" he began.

Flushed and panting, the girl stood with Djimi Kahrtr's cased bow in her hand. "Please, Master, let me stay with you. I'm a good archer and I've no love for the Eh-leenoeeЧBlackhairs, you call them. If I am to be one of your women, let me fight beside you, as Horsewomen do. Please allow me to stay."

"Horses! Many horses near, galloping." Steeltooth's thought beamed out.

"Oh, alright." Milo said hi exasperation. "It's too late to send you back now. Brother." He addressed the mounted clansman. "Go back to your duty and tell them to ride like the wind!"

Walking over to Mara's trembling, blowing horse, Milo untied the bundle of Djimi Kahrtr's weapons and gear from behind the kak. Fortunately, the nomad had been small, even for his race, and his armor was a fair fit for Mara.