"Adkins, Patrick H - Titans 01 - Lord of the Crooked Path" - читать интересную книгу автора (Adkins Patrick H)

The goddesses made their way down the rocky slope. By following the
valleys and passes they managed to come to the plain at a point not very
far from the glade. A pride of lions, grunting their disapproval at the
appearance of the towering maidens, retreated at their approach.

Melpomene brought the goddesses to a halt at the edge of an open area.
She held Metis back to keep her from venturing too far into the open,
then drew concealing fog from the plain. It crept toward them in
drifting wisps at first, then in slow, billowing waves. The fog grew
thicker, layer upon layer, completely obscuring the space they must
cross.

Hand in hand, Melpomene led them forward until they crouched behind the
concealment of the tall, thick trees that rimmed the glade. She
dismissed the fog and signaled to the others. Following her example,
they cautiously parted the branches to peer through the foliage.

Metis could see nothing. To get a better view she threw herself CHI the
ground and crawled forward between the boles of the trees. Before her
lay the mud bank of a stream. All along it, at irregular intervals,
vaguely oval mounds protruded from the water and ran up onto the shore.

Metis edged forward on her elbows, making as little noise as she could.
The mounds glistened where the sunlight struck the translucent slime
that coated them, and they heaved with slow, rhythmic movements. She
watched in puzzled fascination for more than a minute before she became
aware of the creatures across the stream.

They were tiny, but perfectly formed--not much bigger than the hand of a
goddess. All were dirty, but some were caked with mud from head to foot.
Much of their bodies was covered with coarse, sparse hair, and in places
the hair sprouted in thick patches.

Ten or fifteen of the creatures were visible across the stream, and now
Metis realized that there were more on her side. Some cracked open
acorns and ate them. A few seemed to be playing. One began making
high-pitched, piping cries as another chased it.

Metis backed out from between the trees to join the other goddesses.

"Well," Melpomene asked, whispering softly, "what do you think of this
strange new thing? An interesting discovery, aren't they?"

"What does it mean?" Metis asked. "Except for being so tiny, they look
just like us."

Melpomene smiled despite herself. "Well, no--not just like us. As far as
I can tell, they're all male."

"And they're filthy," Kalliope said. "They've got ugly hair all over