"David Gemmel - Sipstrassi Tales 03 - Bloodstone" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gemmel David)

'I expected that,' she said. 'Where is the Preacher?'
'No sign of him. His horse headed east and I caught up with it; there was blood on the saddle. I
backtracked and found signs of wolves and bears, but I couldn't find him.'
'He is not dead, Nestor,' she said. 'I would know. I would feel it here,' she told him, hitting her chest with
a clenched fist.
'How did he manage to kill five men? They were all armed. All killers. I mean, I never saw the Preacher
ever carry a gun.'
'Five men, you say?' she replied, ignoring the question. 'There were more than twenty surrounding the
church according to those who saw the massacre. But then I expect there were some from our own . . .
loving . . . community.'
Nestor had no wish to become involved in the dispute. Wolvers in a church was hardly decent anyhow,
and it was no surprise to the youngster that tempers had flared. Even so, if the Crusaders hadn't been
called out to a brigand raid on Shem Jackson's farm there would have been no violence.
'Anything more you want me to do, Mrs McAdam?'
She shook her head. 'It was plain murder,' she said. 'Nothing short.'
'You can't murder Wolvers,' said Nestor, without thinking. 'I mean they ain't human, are they? They're
animals.'
Anger shone in Beth's eyes, but she merely sniffed and turned aside.
тАШThank you, Nestor, for your help. But I expect you have chores to do and I'll not keep you from them.'
Relieved, he turned away and remounted. 'What do you want me to do with this stallion?' he called.
'Give it to the Crusaders. It wasn't ours and I don't want it.'
Nestor rode away to the stone-built barracks at the south of town, dismounting and hitching both horses
to the rail outside. The door was open and Captain Leon Evans was sitting at a rough-built desk.
'Good morning, sir,' said Nestor.
Evans looked up and grinned. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man with an easy smile. 'Still looking to
sign up, boy?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Been reading your Bible?'
'I have, sir. Every day.'
тАШIтАЩll put you in for the test on the first of next month. If you pass I'll make you a cadet.'
'I'll pass, sir. I promise.'
'You're a good lad, Nestor. I see you found the stallion. Any sign of the Preacher?'
'No, sir. But he killed five of the raiders.'
The smile faded from Captain Evans's face. 'Did he, by God?' He shook his head. 'As they say, you can't
judge a man by the coat he wears. Did you recognise any of the dead men?'
'Not a one, sir. But three of them had their faces shot away. Looks like he just rode down the hill and
blasted 'em to Hell and gone. Five men!'
'Six,' said the Captain. 'I was checking the church this morning, there was a corpse there. It looks like
when the fire was at its worst the Preacher managed to smash his way out at the rear. There was a man
waiting. The Preacher must have surprised him, there was a fight and the Preacher managed to get the
man's gun. Then he killed him and took his horse. Jack Shale says he saw the Preacher riding from town;
said his coat and hair were ablaze.'
Nestor shivered. 'Who'd have thought it?' he said. 'All his sermons were about God's love and
forgiveness. Then he guns down six raiders. Who'd have thought it?'
тАШI would, boy,' came a voice from the doorway and Nestor turned to see the old prophet making his
slow way inside. Leaning on two sticks, his long white beard hanging to his chest, Daniel Cade inched his
way to a seat by the wall. He was breathing heavily as he sank to the chair.
Captain Evans stood and filled a mug with water, passing it to the prophet. Cade thanked the man.
Nestor faded back to the far wall, but his eyes remained fixed "to the ancient legend sipping the water.
Daniel Cade, the former brigand turned prophet, who had fought off the Hellborn in the Great War.