"Bennett, Marcia J - Ni-Lach 03 - Beyond the Draak's Teeth UC" - читать интересную книгу автора (Bennett Marcia J)

A few minutes later, Garv stepped around the small table and tripped over Bhaldavin's leg. Cursing loudly, he caught Bhaldavin by the arm and propelled him onto the nearby bed.
"Little Fish stays there, out of Gary's way," he growled. "No more playing with smelly grass."
Time passed. Bhaldavin lay quietly on the bed watching Garv busily preparing supper. It seemed impossible that he had no memories of the man beyond the previous day.
He lifted a lock of hair from his shoulder and straightened it out until it reached his stomach. He knew that Kion would be shamed if he saw it so long and unkempt, for only Elders or Seekers ever wore their hair so long, and he certainly had no right to claim either title.
Thoughts of his father stirred thoughts of his home in the Deep, filling him with sadness. He closed his eyes, trying to relieve the burning pressure of tears that ached for release; but the tears wouldn't come because the memories behind them were locked in his past, where he couldn't reach them.
A sudden knock on the door startled Bhaldavin.
Garv was checking the fire to see if the coals were ready to use. Before he could stand up to see who was there, the door swung open and a small clean-shaven man stepped through the doorway. He had dark hair and a hooked nose that was accented by a pair of lively brown eyes.
"Hello, Brother."
Garv smiled widely. "Theon! I thought you would be gone for another week!"
"My plans didn't work out." Theon glanced at the fish lying on the table. "Am 1 invited for supper?"
Garv nodded. "There's more than enough." ^
MARCIA J. BENNETT
21
Theon set a small backpack down next to the nearest bed. "What are you having besides fish?"
"Nabob roots in gravy and spice bread."
Theon rolled his eyes. "Should have known. That's all you ever eat. I'm going to have to teach you to cook something else, Brother. A man can survive on food like that, but sooner or later it's going to drive him crazy."
Garv went to the table to cut and debone the fish. "Sit down, Theon, and tell me about your trip,"
"First let me say hello to Little Fish."
Theon walked over to Bhaldavin's bed and sat down on the edge of the bunk. "And how are you today, Little Fish?"
Did the man expect an answer? Bhaldavin wondered. Or was he like Garv, only talking in order to hear his own voice?
"Little Fish was sick yesterday," Garv said, taking the pan of fish over to the fire. "I think Chagg should look at him."
Theon caressed Bhaldavin's arm from shoulder to fingertips. "Chagg can't do anything for him, Garv. You know that."
Theon's hand moved up Bhaldavin's naked side, sending chills coursing up and down his spine. Uneasy, Bhaldavin edged away.
"How about letting Little Fish go home with me tonight, Garv?" Theon asked. He placed a hand on the other side of Bhaldavin's chest, near the stub of his arm. "It'll give you a chance to go into town without worrying about him."
"I have no money for town," Garv responded without turning.
"I have. You can borrow some."
Theon pushed Bhaldavin back onto the bed. Bhaldavin got his arm in between himself and Theon as the man leaned down over him, but Theon was stronger than he looked and Bhaldavin couldn't push him away.
22
BEYOND THE DRAAK'S TEETH
As Theon's lips touched his, Bhaldavin panicked and tried to twist away.
Suddenly Garv was there. He caught Theon by the back of his shirt, dragged him back away from Bhaldavin, then literally threw him across the room.
Theon hit the floor rolling and came up against the far wall with a thud.
"I told you before," Garv yelled, pointing his finger at Theon. "Leave Little Fish alone!"
Theon sat up, grimacing and rubbing an elbow. "Oh, come on, Garv. I wasn't hurting him."
"No, but you scare him. He doesn't understand what"" you want."
Theon shook his head as he got to his feet. "I'm just teasing him, Garv. A little teasing never hurt anyone."
Theon glanced at Bhaldavin, then turned as Garv moved back to the cooking fire. "Oh, by the way, Garv, I have someone who would like to meet Little Fish, a friend of mine. He's been looking for a draak singer."
Garv answered without turning. "Little Fish can't sing."
"No," Theon agreed. "But if he could be taught to sing, he might be worth a lot of money. My friend said he would go as high as one hundred marks if he liked what he saw."
Garv shook his head. "Little Fish is not for sale."
'Think about it, Garv! It would meanЧ"
"No! Your friend can't have him. He's mine."
"All right. AH right. Forget it," Theon muttered. "Keep him for a pet, but you're a fool if you don't get better use out of him. We could be making good money with him right now if you'd have let me set things up. There are few enough of his kind around these days. There would be plenty of people who would pay just to see him!"
Garv stood and pushed past Theon to go to the table. "No. Little Fish stays here with me."
Theon looked at his brother's back, then glanced at Bhaldavin, who lay with his back to the wall, as far away from the two men as he could get.
MARCIA J. BENNETT
23
"Simpleminded and lackwit. You two make a good pair," Theon growled softly as he picked up a bucket and started for the door. "Garv, I'm going for some water. Do you need any more wood for the fire?"
"There's some stacked around the corner of the house," Garv replied calmly, as if he had completely forgotten his show of temper only moments ago.
Theon returned with the water and firewood and washed for supper. Garv set the table for himself and Theon, then fixed Bhaldavin's plate and placed it on the floor near the bed. Taking Bhaldavin by the arm, he pulled him down to sit beside the plate.