"Brian Jacques - Redwall 08 - The Outcast Of Redwall" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jacques Brian)

marm, wasn't intend-in' t'do no storytellin'."

Outcast of Redwall 3

A fat, cheeky leveret piped up indignantly, "Scoffin' a load of our grub an'
not tellin' a story? I say, what a bally swizz!"

The harewife cuffed his long ear lightly. "Burrbob! That's quite enough from
you, m'laddo. I don't think you deserve a story after such impudence!"
Rillbrook took a deep draught of Mountain Ale, smacked his lips, and wiped a
paw across his mouth. "Oh, I dunno, marm, a good story often teaches rotters
an' rogues to be better creatures."

The leverets shouted encouragement eagerly.

"Rather, tell on, old chap!"

"I'll say! Anythin' t'make us better creatures, wot?"

"Do us the world o' good, doncha know!"

The ancient otter waited until silence fell and they were watching him
expectantly, then he began.

"They call me Rillbrook the Wanderer, son of Rillbrook the Wanderer; my
grandsire was called Rillbrook the Wanderer. ..."

The cheeky Burrbob could be heard muttering, "I s'pose his great great auntie
was called Rillbrook the Thingummy, we know that, get on with the yarn.
Yowch!"

This time the harewife's quick paw did not descend so lightly on the impudent
leveret's ear. She fixed him with a frosty glare and said, "One more word from
you, sir, and it's bed with no supper!"

Burrbob took the hint, becoming the very model of silence.

Rillbrook started from where he had left off.

"I have wandered all the seasons of my life, near and far, sometimes under
forgotten skies, along hidden streams, across silent forests. I have seen many
things: mountains topped with snow, hot wastelands where creatures would kill
for water. I have eaten among strangebeasts, listened to their songs, poems,
and stories, words that have brought tears and laughter to these old eyes. I
have heard tales so mysterious that they

4 Brian Jacques

trouble my memory and still return to roam my dreams on lonely nights.