"Carver, Jeffrey A - Parrone - The Dragons" - читать интересную книгу автора (Carver Jeffrey A)

dignity. "Well, this particular story happens to be true, you
half-witted imbecile. And my name is KanKon, if you don't mind." He
ignored the answering cackles and continued, heedless of the momentum
that was clearly building against him. "So you don't think I'm tellin'
the truth? Let me tell you somethings was out there flyin' the stars
before most of you was in potty training, much less rigger training!
I'm telling you the dragons are out there, and they killed my
shipmate and they damn near killed me!
You're all so smug here, you don't-" "The prophecy, Canton!"
"Tell us and be done with it!"
Kan-Kon took another gulp, slopping ale on his sleeve.
His fingers brushed uselessly at the spill. "Gab! Don't you know
that stories-true stories-have to be savored like " "Kan-coon," shouted
one of the veteran riggers, "either tell the damn story or shut up
about it! We can't even have a conversation over here, with everyone
laughing at you!"
"All rigk, Whitie," KanKon said good-naturedly.
"You've paid your dues. You've earned the right to nudge me a
little, mebbe. As for the rest of you@hhhhh." He snorted and upended
his mug, draining the last of the ale.
Gasping, he cried, "All right, then! Here's what they told me after
they killed my partner, and before they threw me and my spaceship back
into civilized space." He slammed the mug onto the bar with a crash
that brought near silence to the barroom. "Listen to the words!"
The only sound now was the whir of the drinks dispensers. He gazed
over the crowd and cleared his throat. "From beyond life will come
one! From beyond ... ahh, hope ... will come one . . ." He
hesitated. "Let's see, now-" Someone slid a fresh mug of ale in front
of him.

He nodded, frowning, then raised his voice again. "Without friend
will come one. And the realm ... and the realm . . . " And suddenly
the words would not come. The words that were practically branded on
his heart.
"Come on, you can do it! 'And the realm'-?"
Kan-Kon sweated, trying to dispel the fog that was clouding his
brain. "And the realm shall tremble!" he shouted.
The murmur from the crowd was not entirely sympathetic.
"Great! Is that it?" his encourager asked.
"No, there's more. I have it right on the tip o' my tongue.
Speaking her name will come one-hey!" Someone was jostling his arm.
"Hey, Rangoon!"
He turned.
"Come on, Can-can!"
Someone or something tripped him, and his legs went out from under
him like rubber. He crashed to the floor in a gush of ale. The other
riggers shouted and jumped out of the way. "Jeer, I hope his dragons
hold their ale better than he does!" one of them cried. "Hey,
Ashcan," complained the whiny red-haired kid. "I think one of your
dragons just peed on me! Can't you keep 'em on a leash?" Brightly