"Simon R. Green - Haven 06 - Bones of Haven" - читать интересную книгу автора (Green Simon R)

list. The other prisoners loathe and despise them. They call them beasts, and assault them every chance
they get. Mostly they're held in solitary confinement, for their own protection. But right now the
prisoners are holding mock trials and killing the rapists and child abusers, one by one.

"Of course, when they've finished with that, there are various political and religious factions, all eager
to settle old grudges. When the dust's settled from that, and the prisoners have demolished as much of
the prison building as they can, they'll turn on the seventeen prison staff they were able to get their
hands on, and try and use them as a lever for an escape. When that doesn't work, they'll kill them too."

"We can't let that happen," said Fisher. "We have to put a stop to this."

"We will," said Winter. "Once we've made sure Hell Wing is secure. I know, Fisher, you want to rush
in there and rescue them, but we can't. Part of this job, perhaps the hardest part, is learning to turn your
back on one evil so you can concentrate on a greater one."

It was ominously quiet in the distance. Hawk scowled. "Should have put a geas on the lot of them.
Then there wouldn't have been all this trouble in the first place."

"It's been suggested many times," said Winter, "but it would cost like hell, and the Council won't go for
it. Cells and bars come a lot cheaper than magic."

"Hold it," said Storm suddenly, his voice so sharp and commanding that everyone stopped dead where
they were. The sorcerer stared silently at the empty corridor ahead of them, his scowl gradually
deepening. "We're almost there."

he said finally, his voice now low and thoughtful. "The next bend leads into Sorcerers' Row, where the
magic-users are confined. They're held in separate cells, backed up by an individual geas. After that,
there's nothing between us and Hell Wing."

"Why have we stopped?" said Winter quietly. "What's wrong, Storm?"

"I don't know. My inner Sight's not much use here. Too many security spells. But I ought to be picking
up some trace of the magic-users on Sorcerers' Row, and I'm not getting anything. Just traces of stray
magic, scattered all over the place, as though something very powerful happened here not long ago. I
don't like the feel of it, Jessica."

"Draw your weapons," said Winter, glancing back at the others, and there was a quick rasp of steel on
leather as the team's swords left their scabbards. Hawk hefted his axe thoughtfully, and then frowned
as he realized MacReady was unarmed.

"Where's your sword?" he said quietly.

"I don't need one," said the negotiator calmly. "I lead a charmed life."

Hawk decided he wasn't going to ask, if only because MacReady was obviously waiting for him to do
so. He nodded calmly to the negotiator, and moved forward to join Winter and Storm.

"I don't like standing around here, Winter. It makes us too good a target. If there's a problem with
Sorcerers' Row, let's check it out."