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

It was in the early summer of LongbowтАЩs fourteenth year that Old-Bear
finally conceded that the children of his lodge were probably mature
enough, so with some show of reluctance he agreed that Misty-Water and
Longbow could go through the ceremony which would join them for life.
The celebration began immediately. The young couple were popular in
the tribe, and their joining promised to be the happiest event of the
summer. The young women of the tribe gave Misty-Water little gifts, and
their gatherings around her were often punctuated with giggles.
The young men gave Longbow well-made arrowheads, spear-points,
and knives, all chipped from the finest stone, and they helped him build
the lodge where he and Misty-Water were to dwell.
Finally the day of their joining arrived, and in keeping with tradition,
Misty-Water arose at dawn to go alone to a quiet pool in the nearby forest
to bathe and then to garb herself in the soft white deerskin garment she
was to wear during the ceremony.
Longbow was not supposed to look upon her that day until the time of
the ceremony, and so he kept his eyes tightly closed as he lay on his pallet
while Misty-Water gathered up her ceremonial garment and quietly left
her fatherтАЩs lodge. тАШHurry back,тАЩ he said softly as she went out into the
morning light, and she laughed a pearly little laugh that touched his very
heart.
The sun rose above the deep forest to the east, and the blue shadows of
morning gradually faded as that most special of days plodded slowly
along. Longbow garbed himself with some care, and then he waited.
But Misty-Water did not return.
By mid-morning Longbow was frantic. Misty-Water was as impatient
as he was to go through the ceremony of their joining, and nobody could
take this long to bathe. Finally Longbow cast custom and tradition aside
and ran out of the village along the path that led to the quiet pool in the
forest. And when he reached it, his heart stopped.
His mate-to-be, garbed all in white deerskin, was floating face-down in
the still water of the pool.
Desperately, Longbow rushed into the water, gathered her in his arms
and struggled back to the moss-covered edge of the pool. He laid her face
down on the moss and pressed her back as One-Who-Heals had instructed
the young men of the tribe to do to revive a drowning victim, but despite
everything Longbow tried to revive her, Misty-Water showed not the
faintest sign of life.
In agony Longbow raised his face and howled as all meaning faded
from his life.


When Longbow, insensible with grief, carried the still body of Misty-
Water back to the village, Chief Old-Bear wept, but in time he sent for
the shaman of the tribe, One-Who-Heals. тАШShe could not have drowned,
could she?тАЩ the sorrowing chief demanded. тАШShe swam very well, and that
pool in the forest is not deep.тАЩ
тАШShe was not drowned, Old-Bear,тАЩ One-Who-Heals replied grimly.
тАШThe marks on her throat are the marks of fangs. It was venom that took
her life.тАЩ