"Dave Duncan - A Man of His Word 3 - Perilous Seas" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

He wasn't going to be very popular if Gathmor heard him talking like that. Or
any jotunn, for that matter.
"Then you're fooling all of us, buddy. There was talk you might be made
coxswain's mate when Larg got promoted." Rap snorted disbelievingly and went
back to leaning elbows on knees. He'd rowed to Faerie and back three times now.
Men grew fast at his age, and he had a rower's shoulders already. He was going
to need those tonight-for a moment Ogi felt a gloating touch of avarice. Lovely
gold! Then he wet a finger and flipped a drop of spit at the griddle. It hissed
and danced satisfactorily. He threw on the onions and began buttering the fish
with his dagger.
"Gathmor said he paid forty-six imperials for me and the goblin," Rap murmured.


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"If I save all I can, how long would it take me to pay it off?"
"With interest, about thirty-nine hundred years."
"Oh-that soon, you think?"
"Be realistic, Rap! If you were Gathmor, would you let you go? Your farsight's
beyond any price to him. He loves his ship, he's responsible for his crew-he
isn't going to let you go. "
The faun sighed and fell silent.
His farsight talent made him unique, of course, and yet it was a freakish thing.
Stormdancer had not needed it since his first voyage. His subsequent trips had
been hard work, with too much rowing and not enough sailing, but completely
uneventful.
And the lad had more to him than just an occult knack. He had the makings of a
very fine sailor. He was competent and trustworthy. He never complained or
picked fights. He did whatever he was told to do as if he were grateful for the
opportunity. Even without his farsight, he was not a man Gathmor would readily
let slip away. Almost all the unattached girls in Durthing were giving serious
thought to the big faun, too.
"They say," Ogi remarked, "that happiness is pretending you always wanted what
you're getting. "
Rap chuckled, but he kept his gaze on the flames.
Ogi began to feel worried. If the kid was out of sorts, then tonight's operation
might turn into a disaster. Before he could explore that possibility, Rap spoke.
"You're an imp. Why d'you live among these maniacs?" Ogi twitched nervously. "I
suggest you don't say that word too loud, friend. And you shouldn't ask
questions like that here. "
"Oh! Sorry! Didn't think."
"It's all right with me. I'll just tell you to mind your own business-"
"But a jotunn would knock my head off," Rap finished. "That's what I meant."
"And you don't need to ask anyway. The only possible reason a nonjotunn would
live here is that it's pleasanter than the imperor's jails. Come on, lad-it's a
great life! Space and freedom! Women? You don't get women in jail unless you're
real rich. Enjoy it!"
None of which was true in Ogi's case. He had never fallen afoul of the law, and
he lived in Durthing simply because he loved the sea and loved being a sailor.