"Nicola Griffith - Yaguara" - читать интересную книгу автора (Griffith Nicola)

rock. In front of that lay a whole complex of ruins. Something just
inside the trees caught her attention, something golden that slunk
from light to shadow, lifting heavy paws, turning its massive head
from side to side. Slowly, heart hammering under her ribs, Jane
lifted her camera.
тАЬWhat is it?тАЭ
 The golden animal was gone. Perhaps she had imagined it.
Jane lowered her camera. тАЬNothing.тАЭ
тАЬOver here is the mat house.тАЭ They walked back down the
slope to a small green mound with one side exposed: a few gray
stones, beautifully fitted, a doorway and lintel. тАЬIтАЩm particularly
interested in the glyphs on the western wall.тАЭ They squeezed
through. Inside it was dim and smelled of animal fur and musk,
like a womanтАЩs hair after the rain. Cleis ran her hand along the wall.
тАЬThis section here is vital.тАЭ She tapped a relief carving, a seated
jaguar-headed figure. тАЬThe throne indicates temporal power, but
other indicators point to the human figure being female. ThatтАЩs
very unusual.тАЭ She looked at Jane. тАЬAbout as usual as a Latina
professor in your Anglo world.тАЭ
Jane said nothing, refusing to be baited. Cleis smiled slightly,
then continued. тАЬOver here,тАЭ she traced her way across the name
glyphs and dates, тАЬanother jaguar-human, but this time not in the
regalia of the royal house. See the scythe? A peasant. IтАЩve seen
jaguars as thrones, jaguars as symbols of shamanic and from there
royal power, but this is the first time IтАЩve seen jaguars as ordinary
citizens, or vice versa. I donтАЩt know what it means.тАЭ Frustration
deepened the grooves on either side of her mouth for a moment,
then she shook her head. тАЬItтАЩs dark in here. I hope photographing
them wonтАЩt be a problem.тАЭ
тАЬNo.тАЭ Jane touched the glyphs lightly with her fingertips.
The strange, bulbous carvings were everywhere she and Cleis
went. CleisтАЩs hands were never still as she pointed out the date
glyphs and name glyphs, explained the long count and the calendar
round. She saved the northwest corner for last.
They climbed up the remains of four huge terraced steps and
then through all that remained of what had once been a corridor.
The vibration became a thrumming hiss. тАЬSee these hinges here?
This corridor was once gated on both ends. Very unusual.тАЭ
 They stepped out into sunlight. Cold spray brushed JaneтАЩs
cheek. тАЬA waterfallтАжтАЭ
But Cleis did not give Jane long to admire the fall, or the pool
bobbing with lilies. тАЬThis way.тАЭ They went down steps cut into the
stone, underground for five yards, then up again into what had
once been a vast courtyard.
Cleis pointed to the wall that ran across the courtyard in six
separate sections. It was covered in glyphs. тАЬThis is the heart of
Kuchil Balum. This is why IтАЩm here.тАЭ


Jane posed Cleis at the well, at the ruins, outside the shack,