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

you."

Kati gobbled her food too quickly, and seared the roof of her mouth with hot tea. Ma took Baber by the
hand, and led him outside, so Kati hurried to get her place. She dumped bowl and cup into a bucket of
cold water, put on the little pack containing her horses and dolls, and picked up the wooden dagger Da
had carved for her. She shoved the dagger beneath her waistband, as would a man. Grabbing her cup,
she rushed out the door and nearly ran into Ma, returning to close up theger . She looked frantically for
Baber. Horses were lined up many paces in two directions, and she found him perched on Ma's chestnut,
dozing. She sprinted to the head of the line where Da sat on black Kaidu, talking to otherbahadurn of
the Tumatsin. "Da!" she cried.

The men turned to look at her, and smiled as she rushed to the black flank of Kaidu. "Look at her belt,"
said Kuchlug. "It seems your flower has grown a thorn! Her eyes might yet turn green, Temujin!"

The men laughed, and Kati held up her arms to her mounted father. "Da, I ride with you. I ride like the
wind on Kaidu!"

Temujin picked her up, hoisting her high to sit in front of him on Kaidu's hard back, and she squealed
with glee. She was at the head of the line, ahead of all the other children, sitting on the fastest horse in the
ordu , Da's warm chest at her back. She leaned 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."
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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 smelledayrog 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.