"Robin Hobb - Tawny Man 2 - Golden Fool" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hobb Robin)

Buckkeep Town behind. I knew that they were stalking me, not merely men on
the same path as myself, for when I slowed my steps, they slowed theirs.
Obviously they had no wish to catch up with me until I had left the houses of the
town behind me. That did not bode well for their intentions. I had left the keep
unarmed, my country habits telling against me. I had the belt knife that any man
carries for the small tasks of the day, but nothing larger. My ugly, workaday
sword in its battered sheath was hanging on the wall in my little chamber. I told
myself it was likely that they were no more than common footpads, looking for
easy prey. Doubtless they believed me drunk and unaware of them, and as soon
as they fought hack, they would flee.
It was thin solace. I had no wish to fight at all. I was sick of strife, and weary of
being wary. I doubted they would care. So I halted where I was and turned in the
dark road to face those who came after me. I drew my belt knife and balanced
my weight and waited for them.
Behind me, all was silence save for the wind soughing through the whispering
trees that arched over the road. Presently, I became aware of the waves
crashing against the cliffs in the distance. I listened for the sounds of men moving
through the hrush, or the scuff of footsteps on the road, but heard nothing. I grew
impatient. тАШCome on, then!тАЩ I roared to the night. тАШIтАЩve little enough for you to take,
save my knife, and you wonтАЩt get that hilt first. LetтАЩs get this done with!тАЩ
Silence flowed in after my words, and my shouting to the night suddenly
seemed foolish. Just as I almost decided that I had imagined my pursuers,
something ran across my foot. It was a small animal, lithe and swift, a rat or a
weasel or perhaps even a squirrel. But it was no wild creature, for it snapped a
bite ar my leg as it passed. It unnerved me and I jumped back from it. Off to my
right, I heard a smothered laugh. Even as I turned towards it, trying to peer
through the gloom of the forest, a voice spoke from my left, closer than the laugh
had been.
тАШWhereтАЩs your wolf, Tom Badgerlock?тАЩ
Both mockery and challenge were in the words. Behind me, I heard claws on
gravel, a larger animal, a dog perhaps, but when I spun about, the creature had
melted back into the darkness. I turned again to the sound of muffled laughter. At
least three men, I told myself, and two Wit-beasts. I tried to think only of the
logistics of this immediate fight, and nothing beyond it. I would consider the full
implications of this encounter later. I drew deep slow breaths, waiting for them. I
opened my senses fully to the night, pushing away a sudden longing not just for
NighteyesтАЩ keener perception but for the comforting sensation of my wolf
watching my back. This time I heard the scuttle as the smaller beast approached.
I kicked at it, more wildly than I had intended, but caught it only a glancing blow.
It was gone again.
тАШIтАЩll kill it!тАЩ I warned the crouching night, but only mocking laughter met my
threat. Then, I shamed myself, shouting furiously, тАШWhat do you want of me?
Leave me alone!тАЩ
They let the echoes of that childish question and plea be earned off by the
wind. The terrible silence that followed was the shadow of my aloneness.
 тАШWhere is your wolf, Tom Badgerlock?тАЩ a voice called, and this time it was a
womanтАЩs, melodic with suppressed laughter. тАШDo you miss him, renegade?тАЩ
The fear that had been flowing with my blood turned suddenly to the ice of
fury. I would stand here and I would kill them all and leave their entrails smoking
on the road. My fist that had been clenched on my knife haft suddenly loosened,