"Camp & Lin Carter - Conan Of Cimmeria - 01 - The Curse Of The Monolith" - читать интересную книгу автора (Camp L. Sprague de)

"A battlefield, eh?" grunted Conan.

The duke's narrow shoulders twitched beneath the green cloak.
"Nay, nothing like that, my heroic Western friend. This spot
lies near the tomb of an ancient king of my people: King Hsia of
Kusan. He caused his entire royal guard to be beheaded and their
heads buried with him, that their spirits should continue to
serve him in the next world. The common superstition, however,
avers that the ghosts of these guardsmen march in review, up and
down this valley." The soft voice dropped even lower. "Legend
also states that a magnificent treasure of gold and precious
jewels was buried with him; and this tale I believe to be true."

Conan pricked up his ears. "Gold and gems, eh? Has it ever been
found, this treasure?"

The Khitan surveyed Conan for a moment with an oblique,
contemplative gaze. Then, as if having reached some private
decision, he replied, "No, Lord Conan; for the precise location
of the trove is not known save to one man."

Conan's interest was quite visible now. "To whom?" he demanded
bluntly.

The Khitan smiled. "To my unworthy self, of course."

"Crom and Erlik! If you've known where this loot was hidden, why
haven't you dug it up ere now?"

"My people are haunted by superstitious fears of a curse laid
upon the site of the old king's tomb, which is marked by a
monolith of dark stone. Hence I have never been able to persuade
anyone to assist me in seizing the treasure, whose hiding place I
alone know."

"Why couldn't you do it all by yourself?"

Feng spread his small, long-nailed hands. "I needed a
trustworthy assistant to guard my back against stealthy foe,
human or animal, that might approach whilst I was rapt in
contemplation of the booty. Moreover, a certain amount of
digging and lifting and prying will be required. A gentleman
like me lacks the thews for such crude, physical efforts.

"Now harken, gallant sir! This person led the honorable commander
through this valley, not by happenstance but by design. When I
heard that the Son of Heaven wished me to accompany the brave
captain westward, I seized upon the proposal with alacrity. This
commission came as a veritable gift from the divine officials in