"Dragonlance Tales I - Vol2 - Kender, Gully Dwarves and Gnomes" - читать интересную книгу автора (DragonLance)

"Aye," Flint growled. "Maybe not as long as you think."
Behind him Tanis heard Sturm draw a short, sharp
breath. If Tas had romped through the blizzard, Sturm had
forged through with all the earnest determination he could
muster. Each time Tas foundered, Sturm was right beside
Tanis to pull him out. His innate chivalry kept him always
ahead of Flint, blocking the wind's icy sting, breaking a
broader path than he might have for the old dwarf whose
muttering and grumbling would never become a plea for
assistance.
But for all that, Tanis knew, the youth had never seen a
blizzard like this one. He's acquitted himself well, and
more's the pity that I'll have to take him out with me yet
again, the half-elf thought to himself.
A roaring wind drove from the north, wet and bitter with
snow. The climb to this tireless shelter had left Tanis stiff
and aching, numb and clumsy with the cold. He wanted
nothing less than to venture out into the screaming storm
again. But his choices were between sure death in the long
black cold of night and one more trip into the storm. It was
not, in the end, a difficult choice to make.
"It won't come to that, Flint. We're going to have a fire."
Flint's doubt was written in the hard set of his face. Tas
looked from the wood bin to Tanis. "But there's no wood,
Tanis. I don't see how we're going to have a fire without
wood."
Tanis drew a long breath against rising impatience.
"We'll get wood. There was a stand of pine trees along our
way up. No doubt Sturm and I can get enough from there
and be back before nightfall."
Tas brightened then. Now there would be something to
do besides spending a long cold night wondering what it
would feel like to freeze solid. Shrugging closer into the
warmth of his furred vest, he started for the doorway. "I'll
come, too," he announced, confident that his offer would be
gratefully accepted.
"Oh, no." Tanis clamped both hands on the kender's
shoulders and caught him back. "You're staying here with
Flint."
"But, Tanis - "
"No. I mean it, Tas. The snow is drifting too high. This
is something that Sturm and I will do."
"But you'll NEED my help, Tanis. I can carry wood, and
we're going to need a lot of it if we're not to freeze here
tonight."
Tanis glanced at Flint. He thought he might hear a
similar argument from his old friend. He forestalled it with
a grim shake of his head, and Flint, recognizing but not
liking the wisdom of Tanis's decision, nodded agreement.
With a dour sigh Flint went to gather up the splintered