"Tara K. Harper - Wolfwalker 4 - Wolf's Bane" - читать интересную книгу автора (Harper Tara K)

He threw his right leg over the pommel. For a moment, he hung on the
saddle and the strength of her arms. Then he hit the road running. Hooves
pounded as she picked up speed. The gray wolf flashed beside her. She was
gone, and only the scent of her hair and the sweat of her ride remained for
him to taste.
He walked, limping, after the other dnu, which had finally stopped on the
road. The sides of its bloated, segmented belly heaved with breathlessness,
and its eyes rolled in its head. The odor of fear was upon it. There was a
dark patch on its flanks, but he couldnтАЩt tell what it was. Then the creature
shifted nervously out from under the rootroad trees and into the white-
bright moonlight. He stepped closer, and the riding beast grunted its
warning, stamping its middle legs. No wonder the wolfwalker had not
simply moved away from him like a relay runner and slowed to let him
catch up. She must have barely been able to control the beast, frightened as
it was. Had he tried to ride up from behind, the dnu would have panicked
into the barrier bushes like a hare from a hungry worlag.
He moved again, slowly soothing the creature until he could get his hands
on the reins and examine the patch more clearly. The ragged gashes that
had bled out on its flanks were deep and dark. He felt their warmthтАФthey
were hardly clotted yetтАФand rubbed his fingers together. The scent of the
blood mixed with the beastтАЩs sweat, and again he heard the howling. His
voice was low as he looked after her. тАЬRide with the moons, Dione.тАЭ



Menedi heard the hooves of the riding beast first. тАЬQuick now. Look sharp,тАЭ
she snapped at the two youths. She was already half out the door.


file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry/Bureaub...er%20-%20Wolf%20walker%204%20-%20Wolf's%20Bane.html (9 of 480)22-12-2006 1:10:49
Wolf's BaneтАУHarper, Tara KтАУWolf 04


тАЬIs she hereтАФthe healer?тАЭ The younger boyтАЩs voice was thin with
excitement.
Menedi didnтАЩt bother to nod back over her shoulder. The boy would hear
for himself in the next few seconds. тАЬGet the dnu loose and ready. Culli,
make sure the reins of the two trailing beasts wonтАЩt tangle.тАЭ
Hurrying to the womanтАЩs side, the tall youth cocked his head. тАЬSheтАЩs
coming in fast.тАЭ
тАЬAnd be glad that she is, ItтАЩs your uncle whoтАЩs out on that venge.тАЭ
тАЬI know it, maтАЩam.тАЭ He checked the reins of the dnu, then glanced back
through the doorway to the table where his second meatroll lay untouched.
Another glance up the road told him the rider was not yet in sight. He thrust
the reins of the relay dnu at the younger boy and dashed inside, grabbing up
the food. There was no napkin to wrap it in. Running back out, he yanked a
bandanna from his pocket and slapped it around the meatroll. He had time
only to thrust the small bundle in the saddlebag before Menedi swung up on
the lead dnu and started the other two relay beasts out at a slow trot.
MenediтАЩs three dnuтАФthe one she rode and the two relay beasts she ledтАФ