"04 - Storm Season (a)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Asprin Robert)

"My life was involved too," Saliman shrugged. "The raiders were rather
unselective about targets by then-"

"If I might finish my work?" Stulwig in-terupted testily. "It has been a long
night-and you two will have much time to talk."

"Of course," Jubal agreed, waving Saliman away. "How soon before I can use my
legs again?"

The question hung too long in the air, and Jubal knew the answer before the
healer found his voice.

"I've removed the arrows from your knees," Stulwig mumbled. "But the damage was
great... and the infection-"

"How long?" This time the slaver was not asking; he demanded.

"Never."

Jubal's hand moved smoothly, swiftly past his hip, then hesitated as he realized
it was not holding the dagger. Only then did his conscious mind understand that
Saliman had his weapons. He sought to catch his aide's eye, to signal him,
before he realized that his ally was deliberately avoiding his gaze.

"I have applied a poultice to slow the spread of the infection," Alten went on,
unaware that he might have been dead, "as well as applied the juice of certain
plants to deaden your pain. But we must proceed with treatment without delay."

"Treatment?" the slaver glared, the edge momentarily gone from his temper. "But
you said I wouldn't be able to use my legs-"

"You speak of your legs," the healer sighed. "I'm trying to save your life
though I've heard there are those who would pay well to see it ended."

Jubal heard the words and accepted them without the rush of fear other men might
feel. Death was an old acquaintance of all gladiators. "Well, what is this
treatment you speak of?" he asked levelly.

"Fire," Stulwig stated without hesitation. "We must burn the infection out
before it spreads further."

"No."

"But the wounds must be treated!" the healer insisted.

"You call that a treatment?" Jubal challenged. "I've seen burned legs before.
The muscle's replaced by scar tissue; they aren't legs-they're things to be
hidden."

"Your legs are finished," Stulwig shouted. "Stop speaking of them as if they