"Alan Dean Foster - Catechist 1 - Carnivores Of Darkness & Light" - читать интересную книгу автора (Foster Alan Dean)

own. "I pass on the covenant to you, whoever you are. I charge you, on the departure of my soul, to save
the innocent Themaryl and to restore her to the people of Laconda. With her abduction, the heart has
gone out of that land, and all who dwell within it. I, Tarin Beckwith, place this on you." Ehomba shook
his head slowly as he gazed down at the stranger. "I am but a simple herder of cattle and harvester of
fish, Tarin Beckwith." He gestured with the tip of his spear. "And this is a poor man's land, spare of
people and resources. Not a place in which to raise armies. I would not even know which way to begin
searching." Raising himself off the sand with a second tremendous effort, Beckwith turned slightly at the
waist and pointed. Sunlight glistened off his visible intestines. "To the northwest, across the sea. There!
Having defeated the only ones capable of following him, Hymneth the depraved will feel safe in
returning now to his home. I am told it lies in the fabled land of Ehl-Larimar, which is far to the west of
Laconda. Seek him there, or find another who will." Once more, clenching hands clawed at Ehomba's
simple attire. "You must do this, or the innocent Themaryl will be forever lost!" "You expect too much
of me, stranger Beckwith. I have a family, and cattle to watch over and protect, and-" Ehomba halted in
midsentence. His encumbrance delivered, the life force spent, the spirit of Tarin Beckwith of Laconda
had at last fled his body. Gently but firmly, Ehomba disengaged the insensible fingers from his shirt and
laid the upper part of the destroyed body down upon the cool sand. It lay there, teal blue eyes staring
blankly at the sky, as the herdsman rose. It would be a privilege, he knew, to consume a chop cut from
the flank of so brave and dedicated a man. When the time came for the sharing out of the food, he would
make a point of making this claim to Asab. As to the dead man's trust, there was nothing he could do
about it, of course. He had spoken him the truth. There were family and herd and village responsibilities
to look after. What matter to him the troubles and tribulations of a people from far away, or the carrying
off of one woman? Suarb and Deloog came running over. They were young men, not yet acknowledged
elders, and they nodded to him respectfully as they knelt by the now motionless form at his feet. There
was excitement in their voices, and their eyes were alight with the pleasure to be found in something
new. "Etjole, you found this one, but you do not take his belongings." Suarb eyed him uncertainly while
Deloog gazed at the heavily embossed leather armor, openly covetous. "No. I have no interest in such
things. They are yours if you want them." Elated at their good fortune, the two youths began to strip the
body of useful material. As he yanked on a pants leg, Deloog watched the taller, older man curiously.
"These are fine things, Etjole. Why do you not take them?" "I have been given something else, Deloog.
Something I did not ask for and do not want, and I am not sure what to do with it." The youths
exchanged a glance. Ehomba was known for sitting and saying nothing for long periods of time, even
when he was not guarding the herds. A peculiar man, for certain, but kindly and always helpful. The
boys and girls of the village, and not a few of their parents, thought him peculiar, but nice enough in his
own quiet fashion. So the two young men did not make fun of him behind his back as he walked away
from them, up the beach toward a point of rocks. Besides, they were too excited by their booty. Working
his way up into the rocks, Ehomba found a flat, dry place and sat down, positioning his spear in the
crook of his right arm and resting his chin on his crossed forearms. Small waves broke themselves
against the cool, gray stone. Farther up the coast, seals and merapes played in the surf, occasionally

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hauling out to dry themselves on the sun-warmed beach. The merapes would crack clams and abalone to
share with the seals, who did not have the benefit of hands with which to manipulate rocks. Out there,
somewhere, lay lands so distant he had never heard of them, exotic and alien. A place by the name of
Laconda, and another called Ehl-Larimar. A woman being taken from one to the other against her will.
A woman many men were willing to die for. Well, he already had a woman worth dying for, and two
children growing up strong and healthy. Also cattle, and a few sheep, and the respect of his
contemporaries. Who was he to go searching across half a world or more on behalf of people he did not
know and who would probably laugh at his untutored ways and plain clothes if they saw him? But a