"Nancy Holder - Highlander - Measure of a Man" - читать интересную книгу автора (Holder Nancy)

A breeze laps at your skin, tickles the hair on your chest, legs, and
arms. The water swirls around your ankles, your shins, your thighs. You
crouch forward and push off, swimming toward the horizon. The water is
colder now. She calls, asking how the water is. You mimic shivering.
She laughs and tells you she will warm you when you come back.

You ride the waves as they take you farther out, the color changing from
deep blue to blue-gray. The sun shines brightly overhead.

A seabird whirls above you, flies away.

The waves rock you up, down, and you swim with long strokes. You swallow
sandy salt water, throw back your head to slick your hair away from your
face. A piece of seaweed brushes your thigh. You grab at it. Not
seaweed, but a small fish. It submerges perhaps another five
centimeters; the water is too dark to watch the little creature's
escape.

Then, in one instant, you feel a presence. The prickling of your skin;
for some-but not you, you are too seasoned-a disorienting vertigo.
Another Immortal is nearby.

And you are naked, and unarmed.

Your blood floods from your face. As you have done for centuries, you
quickly look around. You concentrate. You feel.

There is a shadow behind your lover, who is innocently pouring herself a
glass of wine.

'You wave your hands, call out. She does not hear you.

You begin to swim with all your strength, swearing at yourself,
.",wearing at the shape, willing it to be a friend who has sought you
out for some good reason.

But you know you mustn't waste your time with idle thoughts. You must
assume the worst. You must begin to prepare your assault on the beach.
You play out various scenarios: if he holds your woman hostage; if she
runs away; if she grabs your sword; if she is killed.

It is taking too much time and too much strength to get back to shore.
Dimly you realize you were probably caught in a rip current that carried
you out to deeper seas. Today you might have drowned once, twice, three
times; no matter now. No matter at all.

You are closer. You must stop to survey the scene. The shadow stands
alone, farther back, sword drawn.
Your beloved lies inert on the sand. For a panicked moment you see her
head a meter away; then you realize it's the picnic basket.