"Roland Green - Conan at the Demon's Gate" - читать интересную книгу автора (Green Roland)

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Kubwande, son of D'beno, bore a headdress as well as a loinguard of zebra-hide.

These marked him as an iqakoтАФa Bamula title best translated as "lesser war

chief."

He also bore a stout boar-hide shield, two spears with sharp bog-iron points,

and a war club carved with signs against witchcraft. He wore anklets of feathers

dyed with berries and roots known best to the Bamulas' wizards. He expected that

before this day's sunset, he might need all of these weapons and protections.

Not only was this hunting party on the trail of wild boarтАФnearly as cunning and

well-armed as the great cats for leaving empty places in the huts of the

BamulasтАФbut also Kubwande was hunting under the leadership of qamu (greater war

chief) Idosso.
The qamu was not Kubwande's mortal enemy, because even Idosso knew that a man

must sleep sometime. While he sleeps, it is as well if those who wish his death

are too few to overcome those who guard him. It was no secret between the two

warriors that Idosso wished to be the next war chief of the Bamulas and that

Kubwande wished someone else would be so honored. But this did not make for

blood-feud between them, as yet. Indeed, Kubwande was ready to see Idosso

honored by gods and men alikeтАж if he would but give ear to Kubwande's advice.

Kubwande still thought it was somehow fitting to hunt boar in Idosso's company.

The man was larger than all but a handful among the Bamulas, as strong as he was

large, fierce of temper, but not without some cunning. A dangerous man to judge

lightly, as two hand'sworth of the bleached skulls of enemies outside Idosso's

huts made plain to all but fools.

Being no fool, Kubwande intended that his skull should remain upon his

shoulders. This meant giving Idosso no cause for a chiefs' bout unless there was