"Robert E. Howard - Conan - Rogues In The House" - читать интересную книгу автора (Howard Robert E)


To this cell came Murilo, masked and wrapped in a wide black cloak. The
Cimmerian surveyed him with interest, thinking him the executioner sent to
dispatch him. Murilo set him at rights and regarded him with no less interest.
Even in the dim light of the dungeon, with his limbs loaded with chains, the
primitive power of the man was evident. His mighty body and thick-muscled
limbs combined the strength of a grizzly with the quickness of a panther.
Under his tangled black mane his blue eyes blazed with unquenchable
savagery.

"Would you like to live?" asked Murilo. The barbarian grunted, new
interest glinting in his eyes.

"If I arrange for your escape, will you do a favor for me?" the aristocrat
asked.

The Cimmerian did not speak, but the intentness of his gaze answered for
him.

"I want you to kill a man for me."

"Who?"

Murilo's voice sank to a whisper. "Nabonidus, the king's priest!"
The Cimmerian showed no sign of surprise or perturbation. He had none
of the fear or reverence for authority that civilization instills in men. King or
beggar, it was all one to him. Nor did he ask why Murilo had come to him,
when the quarters were full of cutthroats outside prisons.

"When am I to escape?" he demanded.

"Within the hour. There is but one guard in this part of the dungeon at
night. He can be bribed; he _has_ been bribed. See, here are the keys to
your chains. I'll remove them and, after I have been gone an hour, the
guard, Athicus, will unlock the door to your cell. You will bind him with strips
torn from your tunic; so when he is found, the authorities will think you were
rescued from the outside and will not suspect him. Go at once to the house
of the Red Priest and kill him. Then go to the Rats' Den, where a man will
meet you and give you a pouch of gold and a horse. With those you can
escape from the city and flee the country."

"Take off these cursed chains now," demanded the Cimmerian. "And have
the guard bring me food. By Crom, I have lived on moldy bread and water
for a whole day, and I am nigh to famishing."

"It shall be done; but remember -- you are not to escape until I have had
time to reach my home."

Freed of his chains, the barbarian stood up and stretched his heavy arms,
enormous in the gloom of the dungeon. Murilo again felt that if any man in