"David Gemmel - The Damned 01 - White Wolf" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gemmel David)

Mellicane.
тАШBeware of anger, brother,тАЩ said Lantern. тАШIt has a habit of bringing grief
in its wake.тАЩ
The man laughed. тАШIтАЩll show you grief,тАЩ he said. His fist lashed out
towards LanternтАЩs face. The priest swayed. The blow missed him. The
attacker stumbled forward, off balance, and tripped over LanternтАЩs
outstretched leg, falling to his knees. With a roar of rage he surged upright
and leapt at the priest - only to miss him and fall again, this time striking
his face on the cobbles. There was blood upon his cheek. He rose more
warily, and drew a knife from his belt.
тАШBe careful,тАЩ said Lantern. тАШYou are going to hurt yourself further.тАЩ
тАШHurt myself ? Are you an idiot?тАЩ
тАШI am beginning to think that I might be,тАЩ said Lantern. тАШDo you happen
to know when the apothecary will be arriving? We have an injured brother
and are in need of herbs to reduce his fever.тАЩ
тАШYouтАЩre the one whoтАЩll need the apothecary!тАЩ
тАШI have already said that I need the apothecary. Shall I speak more
slowly?тАЩ
The man swore loudly then rushed in. The knife lanced for LanternтАЩs
belly. The priest swayed again, his arm seeming to brush against the
charging manтАЩs shoulder. The Arbiter surged past Lantern and struck the
apothecaryтАЩs wall head first. Slumping down, he screamed as his knife
blade gouged into his own thigh.
Lantern walked over and knelt beside him, examining the wound.
тАШHappily - though I suppose that is arguable - you have missed the major
artery,тАЩ he said, тАШbut the wound will need stitching.тАЩ Rising, he turned
towards the crowd. тАШDoes this man have friends here?тАЩ he called. тАШHe needs
to be attended.тАЩ
Several men shuffled forward. тАШDo you know how to treat wounds?тАЩ
Lantern asked the first.
тАШNo.тАЩ
тАШThen carry him into the tavern. I will seal the cut. And send someone to
fetch the apothecary. I have many duties today and cannot tarry here
long.тАЩ
Ignored by the crowd Braygan pushed himself to his feet, and watched
as the injured man, groaning in pain, was carried to the tavern. Lantern
glanced back. тАШWait for the apothecary,тАЩ he said. тАШI will return presently.тАЩ
With that he strolled towards the tavern, the crowd parting for him.
Braygan felt light-headed and vaguely sick. He took several deep
breaths.
тАШWho was that?тАЩ asked a voice. It was one of the black-armoured
soldiers, a thin-faced man with deep-set dark eyes.
тАШBrother Lantern,тАЩ answered Braygan. тАШHe is our librarian.тАЩ The soldier
laughed. The crowd began to drift away.
тАШI do not think you will be further troubled today,тАЩ said the soldier.
тАШWhy do they want to harm us? We have always sought to love all
people, and I recognized many in the crowd. We have helped them when
they were sick. In the famine last year we shared our stores with them.тАЩ
The soldier shrugged. тАШNot for me to say.тАЩ
тАШWhy do you not protect us?тАЩ asked the priest.