"Avram Davidson - Bumberboom" - читать интересную книгу автора (Davidson Avram)

Some of the Crew observed what happened and their hoots of astonishment brought others back from
casual wandering about the vicinity. They formed a rough circle about the two, though it was without
either intention of doing so or awareness of the utility thereof. Several of them growled and even shouted
at Mallian and bared their dirty teeth and spat. One or two even went so far as to look about for a
weapon-- but what immediately came to view was an overlooked loaf of bread, and in a moment they
were too concerned with an idiot quarrel about it to pursue the audacious gesture.
 Mog lay a while on his side, his eyes opened, he frowned, he rolled over on his elbows and gazed at
Mallian and at the Crewmen. He smacked his lips tentatively. "Cutcha-troat," he said, but without real
passion. Then he raised his rump and so in stages got to his feet. "Gid oud," he repeated. "Killya..." He
looked around for some means of accomplishing this, saw nothing save his slackmouthed followers and
the great gun. Toward this he flung up his arms. "Bumberboom!" he cried, warningly. "Bumberboom!
Goddam sunamabitchen big noise! Drop-down-dead!"
His small pale eyes observed approvingly that Mal, apparently convinced by this fearsome threat, had
begun to walk away, and he drew back a trifle to let him pass. Whereat Mal repeated his spring and his
sally and knocked him down again. This time he remained down a much longer time, and when he next
arose, it was not to address himself to Mal at all. He put his hands at his hips and threw back his head
and shouted. The words meant nothing of themselves to Mal, but the effect was immediate. The
Crewmen left their places in the circle and bent to their positions in the harness and elsewhere. Mog took
a deep breath. He cried, "Forehead... harsh!" They bent, dug in their feet, groaned.
"Bumberboom!" they cried.
"Bumberboom!" The limber lifted.
"Bumberboom!" The trail lifted.
"Bum... ber... boom!" The ponderous equipage trembled, shifted. The great wheels shivered,
dropped dirt and turf. Turned. Turned slowly. But turned.
Bumberboom began to move forward.
"You may stop her here, Captain Mog," Mal said presently. The man looked at him. "Stop? Here?"
Mog's face moved, uncertainly. Mal gestured, pointed. Then he gave a slight teeter or two, as though
readying himself to jump. Mog crouched, cried out, covered his head with his arms. He shouted, walking
backwards. And the cannon's wheels ceased to turn and the crew promptly slipped its harness and lay
down in the road like dogs.
Elver Guard Naccanath asked, coming forward with his compeers, "You do not propose to leave
them there, I trust?"
"Not for any longer than is required for us to settle our indentures. You have an information to give
me-- or, rather, two; likewise, a map."
Naccanath's thin lips parted in his thin, smooth-shaven face. He unrolled something in his hands.
"Attend, then pro-- hem-- Mallian son Hazelip High Man to the Hereditor of Land Qanaras. Here is a
carto or map which is limned upon strong linen, and we have marked with red a few several places which
bear upon this present business. Thus: this border station. This road. Follow my finger, now... This road
forks here and here and here. The right of this last one leads to our capital community, wherein our
Masters of a surety can medicate your question-- but thither you go not now, for instead you are to
follow via the left fork of this first furcation, and this leads, as is clearly delineated, to the Great Rift and
all the Land Nor.
"And concerning this same, observe how we have reddled for you a choice of hills, few of which
overlook less than a league of fine fat flatland nor fewer than two prosperous trading towns."
Mallian's pursed lips thrust out in concentration between his beard and his moustachioes, he nodded,
traced the lines with his brown and furry fingers, so different from the thin pale digit of his present
informer, who, asked what sundry of produce and people Land Nor afforded, replied that it was a good
yielder of hogs and hides and horses, as well as grain and small timber, but that its people were of a
sullen and willful disposition. "Though I do not doubt," he concluded, "that they will be willing enough to