"William Forstchen - Crystal Warriors 1 - Crystal Warriors" - читать интересную книгу автора (Forstchen William R)

"Quickly, Danuth, work with whatever the boy has found. Try to lure them near the portal."

"But I've found four small demons at the Void's edge in another plane."

"Pass them over to Centra. Open up that portal the boy has found and see what it is."

She felt a shudder run through the shielding. Something was probing them.

"Danuth, we've been scanned. Get that portal open and bring them through as quickly as you can!"

China
While the long shadows of evening were reaching across the land, the exhausted, bedraggled party
inched its way into the canyon. Their retreat was counterpointed by the echoing crack of rifle fire.
Mokaoto's rear guard was still in action.

Ikawa and Mark drove their men onward. Every minute was precious if they were to reach the canyon in
time to fortify their position.

As the sun lit the far horizon with a blazing crimson, the trail suddenly opened into a smooth stone-paved
path that cut straight into the mountainside. The overhanging cliffs caught the evening glow, so that the
mountain seemed to be washed in the color of blood.

The men gathered around their two leaders, seeking orders and some small comfort in their final
moments.

Below, the sound of small arms fire grew louder, and suddenly from around a bend in the gorge a
Japanese soldier came into view.

"Denzo!" someone shouted.

A sergeant appeared next, and with labored breath they came up the slope, shouting that the enemy was
not far behind.

A flurry of activity greeted this announcement. Kraut and Kochanski called for help in moving several
boulders across the trail to provide some cover. Mark came alongside and put his shoulder against the
stone. He looked up for a moment and saw that Ikawa was still looking into the dark passage.

Calling for Welsh and Goldberg to help with the barrier, Mark went over to Ikawa.

"You're not thinking of going in there, are you?" Mark asked.

"We have to check it out. The position might be better in there. I feel as though we've been drawn to this
place, and there will be protection in there."

"That's crazy--it's a dead end. At least out here we can die in the open."

"Are you so eager to die?"

"I thought you bastards were the ones who wanted to be killed for your emperor."