"Glass,.James.C.-.Shanji" - читать интересную книгу автора (Glass James C)

back as he hugged her to him. He took her hands, and placed the
reins of the great horse there.

"Just hold them still. I will tell Kaidu what to do, with my knees and
legs. That is all a good horse needs."

Kati looked up at Da's face, breathing hard with excitement, her
heart aching with joy. "He has a soft mouth," she said knowingly.

"Yes," said Da. He nuzzled her cheek, and she smelled ayrog on
his breath. A bag of the strong brew was even now being passed
from man to man at the head of the line, but it was forbidden to
children.

Da twisted behind her, looking back at the line of horses, the small
flock of sheep, a few goats and three yearling calves herded by
boys on horseback. "We are assembled," he said, then shouted,
"We go with the blessings of Tengri!"

People cheered, the women trilling, and Kati was thrilled by the
sound of it. She felt only the slightest movement of Da's knees,
and squeezed the reins in her hands as Kaidu stepped forward,
tossing his great head and snorting fog. She wanted him to run, to
feel the wind in her face, the hard muscles bunching beneath her,
but knew she must today be content with a leisurely pace to match
that of the older people and the herded animals on the steep trail
into the mountains. For the moment, it was enough, but someday
she would have her own horse, and then she would fly with the
wind.

Kati wrapped the slack reins around her hands so she wouldn't
drop them if she slept. She leaned back into the warmth of her
father, and sighed.



They had traveled for only two hours when the flyer came to
interrupt their journey.

Kati had dozed, rocked to sleep during the long ascent on a rocky
trail to the plateau at the base of the western peaks. She was
awakened by the flyer's whine as it passed closely overhead, a
silver craft shaped like a plate, an open cockpit seating several
men who looked down at them.

"It's barely first light, and already they're out," growled Kuchlug.
"They grow bolder all the time, Temujin, and we say nothing!"

The flyer proceeded to the plateau just ahead of them, hovering,
then descending until it was out of sight. "Think of The Eye, my