"Clayton Emery - Robin Hood's Treasure" - читать интересную книгу автора (Emery Clayton)

by now." Cnut gulped. The sight of all that money and the thought of
marauders coming to steal it unnerved him. "I have to go, milord."
Much stood up and picked his nose. "You hun-gry? Boys al-ways
hun-gry."
The boy shook his head. "No, no thank you. I'm full from that venison I
had. Really."
But Much headed back towards the firepit. "Non-sense. Boys always
hun-gry. Can't send you 'way emp-ty." He shooed crows away from the
scorched wreck and ripped another hunk loose. He picked up the
deerhide from the grass, shook off the ants, wrapped it up and gave it
to the boy.
"Thank you muchly, uh, Much. Will you hide that treasure? It shouldn't
be left out."
The idiot stood over the box. "Hide it. Hide it. Hide it where? Hey, where
you go?" Cnut had made his getaway.
Eventually Much picked up the chest, set it on his sloping shoulder, and
settled it into place.
He marched off into the woods.
"I know you lot don't appreciate the forest. You'd rather a town. Bright
lights, alehouses, painted women. But it's a lovely place to be. There's
no other spot on Earth like it. Not a one. Why just look at those trees,
would you? Just look at them! Other men see only the wood in them,
that they'd fell and cut out the heart of, but I say they're beautiful,
God's finest works --"
"Would you shut up with your drasty speech? You'll drive us all mad!
You talk and talk and talk and say nothing!"
Robin Hood turned in complete innocence. The four knights scowled at
him. Or three did. The fourth, the old man, clung in the saddle and
panted. Robin calculated. They were past the lookout's post, so the
Merry Men knew they were here. He hadn't hailed or blown his horn, so
they expected trouble. A signal would cap it. He asked, "If I mayn't talk,
may I sing?"
"No!"
Robin had already launched into "Pour Mon Coeur." "At-tend-ez moi, les
pe-tites --"
The lead knight spurred his horse and swiped at Robin with his fist. The
outlaw sidestepped by moving close to a tree trunk. The knight cursed
him. "Shut up and move!"
Robin Hood shrugged and walked. With every pace he expected the zip
and thop! of an arrow hitting a man or horse, and he tightened his belly
for the dash for cover. But one step followed another, and eventually he
could see the bright green-yellow of the camp clearing. Then he was in
the open and the horses were snorting behind him.
The King of Sherwood stood and stared at the empty camp. The only
thing out of place was a misshapen burned deer on the grass. Nothing
moved. What the hell?
Roger walked his horse beside Robin. "Well? Fetch out the treasure!"
Robin Hood scritched this beard with his thumb.
"Go!"
"Yes, milord." Robin hitched his belt and started for the cave. Oh, well.