"08 - Winter Warriors" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gemmel David)

\pard\cbpat2\fi187\li14\ri10\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\fs21 He awoke at dawn. The cabin was still warm. Rising from the bed he pulled on his boots. The fire had died down to glowing embers. He took a long drink from his canteen, then put on his cloak, hefted his saddlebags, and went out to the gelding. The back stones of the hearth were hot, the temperature in the lean-to well above freezing. 'How are you feeling, boy?' he said, stroking the beast's neck. The gelding nuzzled his chest. 'We'll catch them today, and then I'll take you back to that warm stable.' Back in the cabin he put out the\cf0\lang2057\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\ri24\sb197\qc\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-17\fs21 15\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\ri24\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\fs21 remains of the fire, then laid a fresh one in its place, ready for any other weary traveller who came upon it. \expndtw-1 Saddling the gelding he rode out into the winter woods.\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\li5\ri14\sb245\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-1\fs21 Orendo stared gloomily at the jewels, purple amethysts, \expndtw0 bright diamonds, red rubies, sparkling in his gloved hand. With a sigh he opened the pouch and watched them tumble back into its dark interior.\cf0\lang2057\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi202\li5\ri14\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\fs21 'I'm going to buy a farm,' said the youngster, Cassin. \expndtw-1 'On the Sentran Plain. Dairy farm. I've always loved the \expndtw0 taste of fresh milk.' Orendo's weary eyes glanced up at \expndtw-1 the slim young man and he said nothing.\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi211\li10\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\fs21 'What's the point?' countered Eris, a thickset bearded \expndtw-3 warrior with small dark eyes. 'Life's too short to \i buy \i0 hard \expndtw-5 work. Give me the whorehouses of Drenan and a fine little \expndtw-4 house high on the Sixth Hill. A different girl every day of \expndtw-3 the week, small, pretty and slim hipped.'\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi192\li14\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-1\fs21 A silence grew among them, as each remembered the \expndtw0 small, pretty girl they had murdered back in the city of \expndtw-1 Usa. 'Looks like we're clear of snow today,' said Cassin, \expndtw-3 at last.\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\li226\sl-250\slmult0\cf1\lang1033\fs21 'Snow is good for us,' said Orendo. 'It covers tracks.'\cf0\lang2057\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi202\li24\ri5\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-2\fs21 'Why would anyone track us yet?' asked Eris. 'No-one \expndtw0 saw us at the merchant's house, and there's no roll-call until tomorrow.'\cf0\lang2057\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi192\li24\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\fs21 'They'll send Nogusta,' said Orendo, leaning forward to add a chunk of wood to the fire. It had been a cold night in the hollow and he had slept badly, dreaming awful dreams of pain and death. What had seemed a \expndtw-4 simple robbery had become a night of murder and shame \expndtw-2 he would never forget. He rubbed his tired eyes.\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi197\li43\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-2\fs21 'So what?' sneered Eris. 'There's three of us, and we're not exactly easy meat. If they send that black bastard I'll \expndtw0 cut his heart out.' Orendo bit back an angry retort.\cf0\lang2057\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\li43\sb149\qc\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-17\fs21 16\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\li5\ri10\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\fs21 Instead he rose and stepped towards the taller, heavier \expndtw-8 man.\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi192\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-3\fs21 'You have never seen Nogusta in action, boy. Pray you \expndtw0 never do.' Stepping past the two younger men Orendo walked to a nearby tree and urinated. 'The man is uncanny,' he said, over his shoulder. 'I was with him \expndtw-2 once when we tracked four killers into Sathuli lands. He \expndtw-1 can read sign over rock, and he can smell a trail a hound \expndtw0 would miss. But that's not what makes him dangerous.' Orendo continued to urinate, the water coming in slow, rhythmic spurts, sending up steam from the snow. He had endured trouble with his bladder for over a year now, needing to piss several times a night. 'You know \expndtw-2 what makes him dangerous?' he asked them. 'There is no \expndtw0 bravado in him. He moves, he kills. It is that quick. \expndtw-3 When we found the killers he just walked into their camp \expndtw-1 and they were dead. I tell you it was awesome.'\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi202\li10\ri5\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-2\fs21 'I know,' came the tomb-deep voice of Nogusta. 'I was there.'\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi197\li10\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\fs21 Orendo stood very still, a feeling of nausea flaring in his belly. His water dried up instantly and he retied his \expndtw-5 leggings and turned very slowly. Eris was lying flat on his \expndtw0 back, a knife through his right eye. Cassin was beside him, a blade in his heart. 'I knew they'd send you,' said Orendo. 'How did you find us so fast?'\cf0\lang2057\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\li211\sl-250\slmult0\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-1\fs21 'The girl lived,' said Nogusta.\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi192\li19\ri10\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-1\fs21 'I thank the Source for that,' said Orendo, with a sigh. \expndtw-2 'Are you alone?'\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi202\li14\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-1\fs21 'Yes.' The black man's sword was sheathed, and there \expndtw0 was no throwing knife in his hands. It does not matter, thought Orendo. I don't have the skill to best him.\cf0\lang2057\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi202\li19\ri10\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\fs21 'I'm glad. I wouldn't want Bison to see me now. Are \expndtw-2 you taking me back?'\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\li221\sl-250\slmult0\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-1\fs21 'No. You will remain here, with your friends.'\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\ri5\sb197\qc\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-17\fs21 17\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi216\li5\ri34\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\fs21 Orendo nodded. 'Seems a shame to end a friendship \expndtw-3 this way, Nogusta. Will you take back our heads?'\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\li211\sl-250\slmult0\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-4\fs21 'The White Wolf told me my word was good enough.'\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi197\ri14\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-1\fs21 Orendo felt a trickle of hope. 'Look, man, I was only \expndtw0 the look out. I didn't know there was going to be \expndtw-5 murder. But it happened. There are enough jewels in that \expndtw0 pouch to give us a life \expndtw27 ...\expndtw0 a real life. We could buy a \expndtw-4 palace with them, you and me.' Nogusta shook his head. \expndtw0 'You could just tell them you killed me. And keep half \expndtw-5 the jewels.'\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi187\ri19\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\fs21 'That is what I will tell them. For you will be dead. You were not the look out,' said Nogusta, sadly. 'You raped the girl, and you stabbed her. You did this. \expndtw-2 You must pay for it.'\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi163\li10\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-3\fs21 Orendo moved to the fire, stepping over the bodies of \expndtw-2 his companions. 'They were sending me home,' he said, \expndtw-1 kneeling down and pulling off his gloves. The fire was \expndtw0 warm and he held his hands out to it. 'How would you feel? How does Bison feel?' He glanced up at the tall \expndtw-1 warrior. 'Ah, it is different for you, isn't it? The cham\-\expndtw0 pion. The blade master. You're not quite as old as us. No-one's told you you're useless yet. But they will, Nogusta. The day will come.' He sat down and stared into the flames. 'You know, we had no intention of \expndtw-2 killing the merchant. But he struggled and Eris stabbed \expndtw-4 him. Then the girl ran in. She had been sleeping, and she was wearing a transparent shift. I still can hardly believe \expndtw-3 it happened. The room went very cold. I remember that, \expndtw0 and I felt something touch me. Then I was filled with \expndtw-1 rage and lust. It was the same for the others. We spoke \expndtw-3 about it last night.' He looked up at Nogusta. 'I swear to \expndtw-2 you, Nogusta, that I believe we were possessed. Maybe \expndtw0 the merchant was a sorcerer. But there was something \expndtw-5 evil there. It affected us all. You know me well. In all the\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\li24\sb149\qc\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-17\fs21 18\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\ri19\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\fs21 years we have fought together I have never raped a \expndtw-6 woman. Never.'\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi206\ri10\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-2\fs21 'But you did three nights ago,' said Nogusta, moving \expndtw-4 forward, and drawing his sword.\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi206\ri14\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-3\fs21 Orendo lifted a hand. 'If you will permit me I will do \expndtw-7 the deed myself?'\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi192\ri10\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-3\fs21 Nogusta nodded and squatted down on the other side \expndtw0 of the fire. Orendo slowly drew his dagger. For a \expndtw-5 moment he considered hurling it at the black man. Then \expndtw-4 the image of the girl came to his mind, and he heard her \expndtw-2 voice begging for life. Swiftly he drew the sharp blade \expndtw-3 across his left wrist. Blood flowed instantly. 'There is a \expndtw-4 bottle of brandy in my saddlebag. Would you get it?'\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi197\li5\ri5\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-3\fs21 Nogusta did so and Orendo drank deeply. 'I-am truly \expndtw0 sorry about the girl,' said the dying man. 'Will she \expndtw-8 recover?'\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\li211\sl-250\slmult0\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-1\fs21 'I don't know.'\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi187\li5\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-4\fs21 Orendo drank again, then tossed the bottle to \expndtw0 Nogusta. The black man took a deep swallow. 'It all went wrong,' said Orendo. 'Never put your trust in kings. That's what they say. It was all so glorious in \expndtw-7 those early days. We knew where we were. The \expndtw0 Ventrians invaded us and we fought back. We knew what we were fighting for.' Blood was pooling on the \expndtw-3 snow now. 'Then the boy-king convinced us we should \expndtw-4 invade Ventria, to force the emperor to end the war. No \expndtw-3 territorial ambitions, he said. Justice and peace were all \expndtw0 he wanted. We believed him, didn't we? Now look at \expndtw-6 him! Emperor Skanda, would-be conqueror of the \expndtw-1 world. Now he's going to invade Cadia. But he has no \expndtw0 territorial ambitions. Oh no \expndtw27 ...\expndtw0 the bastard!' Orendo \expndtw-7 lay back and Nogusta moved around the fire to sit along\-\expndtw0 side him. 'You remember that boy I saved?' asked \expndtw-9 Orendo.\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\li216\sl-245\slmult0\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-4\fs21 'Yes. It was a fine deed.'\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi211\li5\ri24\sl-245\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-4\fs21 'You think it will count for me? You know \expndtw23 ...\expndtw0 \expndtw-4 if there \expndtw-3 is a paradise?'\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\li211\sl-245\slmult0\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-2\fs21 'I hope so.'\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi206\ri24\sl-245\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\fs21 Orendo sighed. 'I can't feel the cold now. That's a \expndtw-4 good thing. I've always hated the cold. Tell Bison not to \expndtw-3 judge me too hard, eh?'\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\li211\sl-245\slmult0\cf1\lang1033\fs21 'I am sure that he won't.'\cf0\lang2057\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi197\ri24\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-5\fs21 Orendo's voice was slurring, then his eyes flared open. \expndtw0 'There \i are \i0 demons,' he said, suddenly. T can see \expndtw-2 them. There are demons!'\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi192\li14\ri14\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-1\fs21 He died then, and Nogusta rose, collected the pouch \expndtw-4 of jewels and walked to his horse.\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi202\li10\ri14\sl-254\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-1\fs21 He glanced up at the sky, which was blue, clear and \expndtw-3 bright. Not a trace of cloud.\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi202\li10\ri10\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\fs21 Stepping into the saddle he gathered the other three \expndtw-3 mounts and headed back for the city.\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\li19\ri10\sb245\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\fs21 There were demons in the air over the city of Usa, shroud-pale and skinny, their talons long, their teeth sharp. Ordinary eyes could not see them, and they \expndtw-3 seemed to pose no threat to ordinary folk.\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi163\li19\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-4\fs21 Why then are they here, thought Ulmenetha? Why do \expndtw-7 they hover close to the palace? The large priestess pushed \expndtw-2 her thick fingers through her short cropped blond hair. \expndtw-1 Rising from her bed she poured water into a bowl and \expndtw-6 washed her face. Refreshed she silently opened the \expndtw0 connecting door and stepped through into the queen's bedroom. Axiana was asleep, lying on her back, one \expndtw-4 white slender arm curled around a satin pillow. \expndtw-6 Ulmenetha smiled. Only a few years before that arm had, \expndtw-1 in the same manner, cuddled a stuffed toy - a woollen \expndtw-7 lioness with only one glass eye.\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\li250\sl-250\slmult0\cf1\lang1033\expndtw-5\fs21 Now Axiana was a child no longer.\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\li43\sb173\qc\cf1\lang1033\f1\fs18 zo\cf0\lang2057\f0\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi192\ri19\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\fs21 Ulmenetha sighed. Despite her bulk the priestess moved silently across the royal bedroom, casting an affectionate look at the pregnant Axiana. The queen's face shone in the moonlight, and, in sleep, Ulmenetha could just discern the child she had grown to love. 'May your dreams be rich and joyful,' she whispered.\cf0\lang2057\fs20\par
\pard\cbpat2\fi187\sl-250\slmult0\qj\cf1\lang1033\fs21 Axiana did not stir. The fat priestess reached the window balcony and stepped out into the moonlight. Her white-streaked blond hair shone like silver beneath the stars, and her voluminous nightdress of white cotton shimmered, as if turned to silk. There was a marble-topped table set on the balcony, and four chairs. Easing herself down she untied her rune pouch and placed it on the table. Ulmenetha gazed up at the night sky. All she could see with the eyes of her body were the stars, \expndtw-1 shining bright. To her left a crescent moon seemed to be \expndtw0 balancing precariously on the uppermost tower of the \expndtw-1 Veshin temple. Closing the eyes of her body, she opened \expndtw0 the eyes of her spirit. The stars remained, brighter and clearer now, robbed of the twinkling illusion caused by human astigmatism and the earth's atmosphere. Tall mountains could clearly be seen on the far-away face of \expndtw-1 the crescent moon. But it was not the night sky \expndtw-2 Ulmenetha wished to see.\cf0\lang2057\expndtw0\fs20\par