"David Eddings - The Dreamers 01 - The Elder gods" - читать интересную книгу автора (Eddings David)

sideways toward the northeast. First Mate Ox fought with the tiller, bending it almost
to the breaking point. тАШWeтАЩre in trouble, CapтАЩn!тАЩ he shouted. тАШA current just grabbed
us!тАЩ

тАШOarsmen to your posts!тАЩ Hook-Beak shouted even as Ham-Hand started
bellowing, тАШSlack sail!тАЩ

There was a great deal of scrambling about, but nothing seemed to have any effect.
тАШItтАЩs no good, CapтАЩn!тАЩ Ox cried. тАШItтАЩs got us, and it wonтАЩt let go. The tillerтАЩs gone
slack!тАЩ

тАШMaybe itтАЩll slow down when the tide changes,тАЩ Ham-Hand suggested hopefully.

тАШI wouldnтАЩt make no big wagers on it,тАЩ Ox replied, working the tiller back and
forth to get the feel of the current. тАШThis oneтАЩs moving faster than any current IтАЩve
ever come up against. I donтАЩt think the tideтАЩs got much to do with it. The seasons
might, but itтАЩs a long time тАШtill autumn, and we could end up a thousand leagues from
home afore winter gets here.тАЩ

тАШWeтАЩre making purty good time, though,тАЩ Ham-Hand noted.

тАШAre you trying to be funny?тАЩ Ox demanded angrily.

тАШI just thought IтАЩd mention it,тАЩ Ham-Hand replied. тАШYou want I should tell the
oarsmen to stand down, CapтАЩn?тАЩ

тАШNo. Have them swing her so that sheтАЩs going bow-first. If she keeps going
sideways like this, a good ripple could swamp her. Then have the oarsmen ship their
oars, but keep them in place. If we swirl in behind an island or a reef, IтАЩll want them
to dig in and pull us clear.тАЩ

тАШAye, CapтАЩn, if thatтАЩs the way you want it,тАЩ Ham-Hand replied, tugging his
forelock in a salute of sorts.



It didnтАЩt happen that way, though. The Seagull continued to fly in a northeasterly
direction for the next several days, moving farther and farther into unknown waters.
The crew was growing more apprehensive as the days slid past. TheyтАЩd been out of
sight of land for more than two weeks now, and some tired old stories involving sea-
monsters, the edge of the world, demons, and vast whirlpools began to surface. Ox
and Ham-Hand tried to stifle those stories, but they werenтАЩt very successful.

Then on one bright summer afternoon, the current slowed without any warning,
and then it stopped, leaving the Seagull placidly sitting on a flat, empty sea.

тАШWhatтАЩs our plan, CapтАЩn?тАЩ Ham-Hand asked.

тАШIтАЩm working on it,тАЩ Sorgan replied. тАШDonтАЩt rush me.тАЩ He looked at Ox. тАШHow
much water have we got left?тАЩ he demanded.