"Gordon R. Dickson - The Last Dream" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dickson Gordon R)

тАЬCome here, Secoh!тАЭ called Jim.

тАЬNo! No!тАЭ The invisible line was almost to the tussock. Secoh lifted heavily into the air and flapped off,
crying. тАЬNow itтАЩs loose! ItтАЩs broken loose again. And weтАЩre all lostтАж lostтАж lostтАжтАЭ

His voice wailed away and was lost in the distance. Jim and Nevile-Smythe looked at each other.

тАЬNow, thatтАЩs one of our local dragons for you!тАЭ said the knight disgustedly. тАЬHow can a gentleman of
coat armor gain honor by slaying a beast like that? The worst of it is when someone from the Midlands
compliments you on being a dragon-slayer and you have to explainтАФтАЭ

At that moment either they both stepped over the line, or the line moved past themтАФJim was never sure
which; and they both stopped, as by one common, instinctive impulse. Looking at Sir Reginald, Jim could
see under the visor how the knightтАЩs face had gone pale.

тАЬIn manus tuas Domine,тАЭ said Nevile-Smythe, crossing himself.
About and around them, the serest gray of winter light lay on the fens. The waters of the meres lay thick
and oily, still between the shores of dull green grass. A small, cold breeze wandered through the tops of
the reeds and they rattled together with a dry and distant sound like old bones cast out into a forgotten
courtyard for the wind to play with. The trees stood helpless and still, their new, small leaves now
pinched and faded like children aged before their time while all about and over all the heaviness of dead
hope and bleak despair lay on all living things.

тАЬSir James,тАЭ said the knight, in an odd tone and accents such as Jim had not heard him use before, тАЬwot
well that we have this day set our hands to no small task. Wherefore I pray thee that we should push
forward, come what may, for my heart faileth and I think me that it may well hap that I return not, ne no
man know mine end.тАЭ

Having said this, he immediately reverted to his usual cheerful self and swung down out of his saddle.
тАЬClarivaux wonтАЩt go another inch, dash it!тАЭ he said. тАЬI shall have to lead himтАФby the bye, did you know
that mere-dragon?тАЭ

Jim fell into step beside him and they went on again, but a little more slowly, for everything seemed an
extra effort under this darkening sky.

тАЬI talked to him yesterday,тАЭ said Jim. тАЬHeтАЩs not a bad sort of dragon.тАЭ

тАЬOh, IтАЩve nothing against the beasts, myself. But one slays them when one finds them, you know.тАЭ

тАЬAn old dragonтАФin fact heтАЩs the granduncle of this body IтАЩm in,тАЭ said Jim, тАЬthinks that dragons and
humans really ought to get together. Be friends, you know.тАЭ

тАЬExtraordinary thought!тАЭ said Nevile-Smythe, staring at Jim in astonishment.

тАЬWell, actually,тАЭ said Jim, тАЬwhy not?тАЭ

тАЬWell, I donтАЩt know. It just seems like it wouldnтАЩt do.тАЭ

тАЬHe says men and dragons might find common foes to fight together.тАЭ