"Anthony, Piers - Incarnations 04 - Wielding A Red Sword" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anthony Piers)

She did not even smile. "Come inside," she said.

He followed her into the wagon. Inside, the space was
tight, but well organized; there was room for two to sit
facing each other, and this they did.

"I do not know you," the woman said. "I have not
before talked directly with a person with your problem.
Forgive me if I am clumsy; I don't quite know how to

help you."

Again the man tried. It took time for him to get the
words out, but the woman was patient and did not try to
interrupt or to fill in the words for him. Digested, what
he said was this: "I need help to leave the Kingdom."

"But if you have committed some crime, and are fu-
gitive from justice, I shall not help you," the woman said.

He asserted that he was not a criminal; he just had need

to depart anonymously.

"Forgive me again," she said, "but I must ask you to
touch my harp. This will advise me whether what you say

is true."

He touched her harp. Nothing happened.
She smiled. "Thank you. Now let us be introduced. I
am Orb Kaftan of Ireland, and I sing for my supper. My
harp is a gift of the Mountain King and it will not suffer
the touch of a dishonest person. I am sorry I had to doubt

you before."

"IЧmust not tell you my identity," the man said halt-
ingly. "I am not injured; I wear the bandage to conceal

my face."

"AhЧa political refugee?"

"Approximately." His stutter was diminishing as her
warm attention helped him, but that word remained a con-
siderable challenge.

"May I see your face?"