"Gray, Julia - Guardian 03 - The Crystal Desert" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gray Julia)

The girl who ran away? That's Kalkara. She's the sister of a friend of mine.
She had flames in her eyes, Alyssa commented, sounding puzzled, but before Terrel could ask what she meant, she'd moved on. What took you so long?
Me? So long to do what?
To let me know where you were, she replied, as if this should have been obvious. It was bad enough crossing another moat, but this . . . Her rodent eyes swept over the surrounding terrain.
I thought . . . Terrel began, then abandoned any attempt to try to understand. She was here now, and that was all that mattered. It's good to see you, Alyssa.
It's not me you're seeing, she pointed out.
You know what I mean. It's been such a long time.
It's not always my choice, she replied. Just because I don't come for a while, it doesn't mean I don't love you.
Terrel was stunned by her words. He had known for a long time that he was in love with Alyssa, and he hoped that she felt the same way about him, but this was the first time they had spoken about it. Their friendship was beyond question, and they shared the certainty that one day they would be together again - in mind and body -but was there more to it than that?
You love me? he said quietly.
Of course I do, you idiot. Why else would I put up with looking like this to see you? She lifted one ridiculously large rear foot and glanced at it ruefully.
Terrel smiled, then grew serious again. What kind of love? he wondered, taking care to keep the thought private. Like a brother? He was thinking of Kala and Mlicki. That was not what he felt - or wanted.
I love you too, he said.
I know, she replied dismissively. Why are you here?
It was not the reaction he'd hoped for, and he was left still wondering.
I'm not sure, he replied, trying to collect his thoughts. But I think I might be in the right place at last. Or getting closer, at least.
Have you heard anything about another Ancient?
Rumours in both Vadanis and Macul had led Terrel to the alien creatures there, and he would have recognized anything similar easily enough.
Nothing specific, he admitted. At least I don't think so. But I... It feels possible.
I'm surprised you can think at all in this place, with all this chatter going on.
What... he began, then realized what she meant. The other animals? Can you still hear them?
Can't you? Alyssa asked, then reconsidered. It's not so bad here, I suppose. It's as if they're all part of one big mind, she went on, shuddering slightly. It wouldn't be so bad if any of their thoughts were actually interesting. But being assaulted by so much banality is awful. And what's worse, they seem to think that taking my host here away from the rest of the group will make a terrible difference. Moons! I thought cats and horses were bad enough, but these things . . .
What are you?
I've no idea, and I don't think I want to know. I won't be able to stay too long or the entire tribe will go mad. Doesn't bear thinking about. Anyway, you'd better not waste time. Why do you think this place is important?
Terrel struggled to marshal his thoughts. He'd been wondering about this very topic a lot recently, and welcomed the chance to discuss it with someone who would understand. However, before he began there was something else he needed to ask.
Where are the others?
I don't know. They're being rather secretive at the moment.
Even flam? Terrel's boyhood friend had rarely been able to keep a secret, and even as a ghost his personality hadn't changed.
I haven't seen much of him recently, Alyssa replied. And Muzeni and Shahan seem to spend all their time complaining about the seers' lack of progress with the Tindaya Code. Not that they're much further ahead, as far as I can tell. Anyway, they're not likely to be here any time soon, but I can try and pass a message on to them.
This news dismayed Terrel. The three ghosts had helped guide him in his earlier exploits, and he was distressed by the fact that they all felt they had more important things to do. Even so, he knew Alyssa would
convey his report to them if she got the chance. And in any case, she was his closest and most important ally -the only one who had been able to stay with him when he'd faced the elementals.
All right, he said, trying to put the points he wanted to make in a rational order. Even before I crossed the Iron Sea-
That's where I lost you, she cut in. When you were on the moat.
Well, even before that, I had no real idea where I was heading, and when I got to Misrah - that's this place -it was even worse. The first thing that made me think I was on the right track was the way I met the Toma.
Who?
Terrel explained briefly about the nomads and their way of life. Alyssa seemed amazed that anyone would choose to live in such a way, but she did not interrupt again.
I'd been working my way east, along the coastal plain, Terrel went on, waiting for inspiration. Then I was told about an old hermit woman, who was supposed to be an oracle. She lived in a cave in the hills outside the town I was in, so I set off to look for her. But I must have got lost on the way, because I never found any caves. Instead I came across an encampment on the edge of the desert. It was evening by then, and there were fires burning and drums beating - the most incredible sound I've ever heard - but I couldn't see any sign of people, not even those playing the drums. It was all absolutely still, and it felt quite eerie.
Alyssa began fidgeting, and Terrel took this as a sign of impatience.
To cut a long story short, he said quickly, when I reached the camp, I saw that there was an open space inside the ring of tents, with shapes marked out on the ground with pebbles. They looked like crude mosaics. Each one represented a moon, and they all matched the phases of the moons that night. Then I realized the White Moon was full, and that this must be some sort of ritual, though I still couldn't see anyone. But I could still hear the drums. I called out - I don't remember what I said - and the sound stopped in an instant. It was a bit of a shock, but for some reason I wasn't afraid. It felt welcoming, somehow. I called out again, and this time someone answered. They said, 'The voice of rain', and then it did rain.
That was quite a coincidence, Alyssa commented dryly.
It only lasted a few moments, Terrel went on, but when it was over I was surrounded by people - all staring at me as if I'd done something amazing. I still don't know where they all came from.
You took this as a sign?
Wouldn't you? I've been with them ever since. The next day we headed north, into the desert. And there've been any number of things since then that have made me think I'm doing the right thing.
Such as?
Well, one of the Toma is a sleeper, like you and Ysatel. He's called Vilheyuna, and he's their healer - they call him a shaman - so when they found out I was a healer as well as 'the voice of rain' they made me welcome. They were disappointed that I couldn't heal Vilheyuna himself, but I did enough with others to gain their acceptance.
The spirit world is getting busier, Alyssa remarked quietly.
Do you think you or one of the others would be able to contact him? While he's wandering? Terrel asked.
We're all connected to the elementals somehow, she said, but did not answer his question. What else?
There's someone here who might be another Mentor.
Really? For the first time, Alyssa seemed genuinely impressed. Muzeni and Shahan will definitely want to hear about that. Who is it?