"Harrison, Harry - Eden 2 - Winter In Eden" - читать интересную книгу автора (Harrison Harry)

He had their attention then and they were apologizing for their bad temper, assuring him of his strength and generosity, begging for information. He stayed some time, happy in their companionship, realizing that he had much in common with them. He could speak of what interested him in the deep and complex manner of Yilanш communication. He cared not for Kadair, Karognis-or Ermanpadar either for that matter. For the moment his many troubles were forgotten. It was midday when he left and he saw to it that he returned before dark, bringing meat with him. They ate together in joined pleasure.

Yet behind the pleasure lay the dark shadow of the future. Vaintш was close by and death was between her thumbs. The poisonous plants would grow well in the sun and the little lizards would run and spread their deadly seeds. The future was inescapable-and inescapably grim.


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CHAPTER THIRTEEN
When the weather warmed in the spring and the winter storms died away, there was greater activity at sea south of the city. More of the poison plants had been found to the south, though none in the city itself for some undetermined reason. It was as though the Yilanш had made all of their preparations, tested the efficacy of their attack-and were now waiting for some signal to begin. Yet days passed and there was still no sign of it; even Kerrick was beginning to doubt his earlier fears. Not really doubt, just cover up and hide them. He knew that sooner or later the final battle would begin. Vaintш was out there. She would never stop until they were all destroyed. So, despite the complaints, Kerrick saw to it that all of the approaches to the city were watched and guarded, night and day, while armed parties made longer patrols north and south along the shore to look out for any Yilanш activity. Kerrick himself led the sweeps south, he had the certainty that the attack would come from this direction, but other than the ever-growing wall of death there was still no sign of activity on shore. It was a hot afternoon when he returned from one of these scouting expeditions and saw Nenne waiting for him on the trail.

"There is a hunter from the north, a Tanu who has come and says only that he will talk with you. Sanone has gone to him but he will not speak with the mandukto, other than to repeat that his words are only for you."

"Do you know his name?"

"He is the sammadar, Herilak."

When he spoke the name a chill of apprehension washed over Kerrick. Armun-something had happened to Armun. There was no reason for this fear, but it was there, filling him so full that his hands were shaking.

"He is alone?" Kerrick asked, not moving.

"None are with him-though it can be seen that there are other hunters who wait outside the city, among the trees."

Alone, others in the forest, what could the reasons be? And Armun, what of her? Nenne stood waiting, half turned away as Kerrick's body moved with his thoughts, in the Yilanш way with physical echoes. With an effort Kerrick broke the paralysis of inaction and fear. "Take me to him-at once."

They trotted through the city, gasping in the hot air, their bodies running with sweat, to the open space of the ambesed where Herilak stood waiting. He was leaning on his spear but straightened up when Kerrick came close, speaking before Kerrick could.

"I have come with a request. It is our death-sticks that areЕ"

"We will talk of them after you tell me of Armun."

"She is not with me," he said, unsmiling and grim.

"I see that, Herilak. She is well, the baby?"

"I have no knowledge of that."

All Kerrick's fears had been true. Something had happened to her. He shook his hшsotsan angrily.

"Speak clearly, sammadar. You took her to your sammad, to protect her, you told me that. Now why do you say you have no knowledge?"

"Because she is gone. She did that alone, although I ordered her not to, ordered that none should help her. What she has done, she has only herself to blame. Though the hunter, Ortnar, disobeyed me and helped her to leave. It was last year at this time. He is no longer in my sammad. I sent hunters after her but they could not find her. Now we will talk of other mattersЕ"

"We will talk of Armun. She asked you for aid and you did not give it. Now you tell me that she is gone. Where has she gone?"

"She went south to join you. She must be here."

"She is not-she never arrived."

Herilak's words were as cold as winter. "Then she is dead on the trail. We will talk of other things."