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

keep out the wind, grunting as she did so.

Ma smiled. "You grow so fast, it is time for new leathers. I will look for something at festival. Now I will
braid your hair for the occasion."

"Do we have time, Ma?"

"We will make time. Now sit still."

Kati loved the feel of Ma's gentle hands on her long, black hair, combing it out, forming two braids and
coiling them like snakes at her temples. The braiding rocked her head rhythmically, making her sleepy
again, and she yawned. "Why do we leave so early?"

"It is best we be well along our way at dawn so the Emperor does not misunderstand our intention in
banding together. He is aware of the festival, and its location. His flyers will see us headed in that
direction, and leave us alone."

"Da says the Emperor fears us. He thinks we will attack him, like in the pictures." Kati pointed at the
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tapestry above her bed.

"He has little reason to fear us, dear. His weapons and machines are far more powerful than ours, and he
is ruler of Shanji."

"So he can tell us what to do, and when to come home," said Kati.

Ma laughed. "Like your father and me? No, Kati, he is not a father to us. He has put us out of his city,
and leaves us to rule ourselves as long as we don't bother him or his people."

"Why, Ma? Did we do something wrong? If I did a bad thing, would you make me live by myself?"

"Of course not. You're my child, from my own body, and I would never abandon you for any reason.
But we are Tumatsin, not children of the Emperor's people. They call us changelings, and the people we
came from went away a long time ago. No more questions, now. You will learn more at the Festival of
Tengri, and see his eye that watches over us until our ancestors return. There, I'm done, and I have a little
gift for you."

Ma put a loop of yellow metal over Kati's head and around Kati's throat. A pendant hung from it, two
pieces of metal forming the outline of an ovoid shaped like pursed lips. "So you will remember Tengri's
eye after you've seen it," she said.

"It's pretty," said Kati, fingering the pendant and smiling at her new treasure. "Now I have jewelry like
the other women."

Ma hugged her from behind. "You are my little woman. Now, eat some soup and have tea before we
leave. Only one cup of tea, though. We won't stop until mid-day. A bowl and cup are on the stove for