"James Herbert - Soul Catcher" - читать интересную книгу автора (Herbert James)

message into his nerves, telling of that mechanical giant the hoquat called civilization.
The message dried his tongue. Momentarily, he sensed the many resources the hoquat
possessed to hunt down those who wounded them.

Alien guns and aircraft and electronic devices. And he must fight back without such
things. Everything hoquat must become alien and denied to him.

An owl cried outside the cabin.

Katsuk pressed the clothing bundle tightly to his chest. The owl had spoken to him. In
this land, Katsuk would have other powers, older and stronger and more enduring than those
of the hoquat.

He listened to the room: eight boys asleep. The sweat of their excitement dominated this
place. They had been slow settling into sleep. But now they slept even deeper because of
that slowness.

Katsuk moved to the head of the boy's cot, put a hand lightly over the sleeping mouth,
ready to press down and prevent an outcry. The lips twisted under his hand. He saw the
eyes open, stare. He felt the altered pulse, the change in breathing.

Softly, Katsuk bent close, whispered: "Don't waken the others. Get up and come with me.
I have something special for you. Quiet now."

Hesitant thoughts fleeing through the boy's mind could be felt under Katsuk's hand. Once
more, Katsuk whispered, letting his words flow through his spirit powers: "I must make
you my spirit brother because of the photographs." Then: "I have your clothes. I'll
wait in the hall."

He felt the words take effect, removed his hand from the boy's mouth. Tension subsided.

Katsuk went into the hallway. Presently, the boy joined him, a thin figure whose shorts
gleamed whitely in the gloom. Katsuk thrust the clothing into his hands, led the way
outside, waiting for the boy at the door, then closing it softly.

Grandfather, I do this for you!

***
Fragment of a note by Charles Hobuhet found at Cedar Cabin:

Hoquat, I give you what you prayed for, this good arrow made clean and straight by my
hands. When I give you this arrow, please hold it in your body with pride. Let this
arrow take you to the land of Alkuntam. Our brothers will welcome you there, saying:
"What a beautiful youth has come to us! What a beautiful hoquat!" They will say to one
another: "How strong he is, this beautiful hoquat who carries the arrow of Katsuk in his
flesh." And you will be proud when you hear them speak of your greatness and your beauty.
Do not run away, hoquat. Come toward my good arrow. Accept it. Our brothers will sing
of this. I will cover your body with white feathers from the breasts of ducks. Our
maidens will sing your beauty. This is what you have prayed for from one end of the world
to the other every day of your life. I, Katsuk, give you your wish because I have become