"Simon R. Green - Deathstalker - 1 - Deathstalker" - читать интересную книгу автора (Green Simon R)

even breathing hard. The long cut burned across his ribs, and he could feel blood
coursing down his side. Much as he hated to admit it, Cathy clearly was in much
better shape than he.

The thought sparked a sudden anger in him, and as she came forward again, Owen
fell easily into the defensive stance he should have been using all along. His
weapon master had spent enough time hammering it into him. Cathy lunged again,
and he stepped gracefully aside, seized her arm in one simple movement and
twisted it up behind her back. Her own speed and impetus slammed the hold into
place, and she gasped in pain as he applied a steady pressure. Her fingers opened
reluctantly, releasing the knife. It fell to the floor, but Cathy kicked it out of reach
before Owen could even think about going after it. And then she twisted strangely,
pulled free of his grasp and sent Owen flying before he knew what was
happening. He scrambled hurriedly to his feet, looking about him for the knife.
Cathy pirouetted once, her long leg flying up, and her foot hit Owen expertly just
above the ear. He managed to roll with some of the blow, but he still hit the floor
hard again, his head ringing.

Great, thought Owen, as he struggled to get his feet under him. All the assassins
that could have come after me, and I had to get a double-jointed contortionist kick-
boxer. Well, when in doubt, improvise. And if that fails, cheat.

Cathy came at him again, moving almost too fast for the eye to follow. Owen
grabbed his clothes from the chair they'd been laid out on and threw them into
Cathy's face. For a second she was blind and off balance, and that was all it took
for Owen to snatch up the knife and thrust it between her ribs. For a long moment
they remained as they were, Cathy on her feet, him on one knee, both breathing
hard. Blood poured from Cathy's heaving side. The clothes fell away from her
face. She gripped his shoulders fiercely, as though to hold herself up, but all her
strength went out of her, and she sank to the floor, still holding onto him. He
eased her down and sat with her, holding her tenderly in his arms. She coughed
painfully, and blood ran from her mouth. "Damn," she said thickly. "You've killed
me, Owen."

"Yes, I think I have. Why, Cathy? Why did you do it?"

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Green, Simon R. - Deathstalker 01 - Deathstalker (v1.0) (html)



"You've been outlawed. The news came through while I was getting your drink.
All your titles, lands, properties, and monies have been seized. It's death to shelter
or aid you. Anyone who brings your head, preferably unattached to the body, to
the Imperial Court on Golgotha will be rewarded with the Lordship of Virimonde
and half your monies. Somebody really wants you dead, Owen."

She cleared her throat and spat, and there was more blood. Owen held her tightly.
Outlawed? He tried to make sense of it and couldn't. In the space of a few
moments, his whole world had gone mad. Cathy coughed painfully and gritted her