"Kay, Guy Gavriel - Fionavar Tapestry 1 - The Summer Tree" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kay Guy Gavriel)

УHave I got this straight?Ф Kim asked. УYou want us to cross with you somehow to your world, and then youТll bring us back?Ф
УBasically, yes. You will be with us for two weeks, perhaps, but when we return I will have you back in this room within a few hours of when we departed.Ф
УWell,Ф said Kevin, with a sly grin, Уthat should get you, Martyniuk, for sure. Just think, Dave, two extra weeks to study for Evidence!Ф
Dave flushed bright red, as the room broke up in a release of tension.
УIТm in, Loren Silvercloak,Ф said Kevin Laine, as they quieted. And so became the first. He managed a grin. УIТve always wanted to wear war-paint to court. WhenТs take-off?Ф
Loren looked at him steadily. УTomorrow. Early evening, if we are to time it properly. I will not ask you to decide now. Think for the rest of tonight, and tomorrow. If you will come with me, be here by late afternoon.Ф
УWhat about you? What if we donТt come?Ф KimТs forehead was creased with the vertical line that always showed when she was under stress.
Loren seemed disconcerted by the question. УIf that happens, I fail. It has happened before. DonТt worry about me . . . niece.Ф It was remarkable what a smile did to his face. УShall we leave it at that?Ф he went on, as KimТs eyes still registered an unresolved concern. УIf you decide to come, be here tomorrow. I will be waiting.Ф
УOne thing.Ф It was Paul again. УIТm sorry to keep asking the unpleasant questions, but we still donТt know what that thing was on PhilosophersТ Walk.Ф
Dave had forgotten. Jennifer hadnТt. They both looked at Loren. At length he answered, speaking directly to Paul. УThere is magic in Fionavar. I have shown you something of it, even here. There are also creatures, of good and evil, who co-exist with humankind. Your own world, too, was once like this, though it has been drifting from the pattern for a long time now. The legends of which I spoke in the auditorium tonight are echoes, scarcely understood, of mornings when man did not walk alone, and other beings, both friend and foe, moved in the forests and the hills.Ф He paused. УWhat followed us was one of the svart alfar, I think. Am I right, Matt?Ф
The Dwarf nodded, without speaking.
УThe svarts,Ф Loren went on, Уare a malicious race, and have done great evil in their time. There are few of them left. This one, braver than most, it would seem, somehow followed Matt and me through on our crossing. They are ugly creatures, and sometimes dangerous, though usually only in numbers. This one, I suspect, is dead.Ф He looked to Matt again.
Once more the Dwarf nodded from where he stood by the door.
УI wish you hadnТt told me that,Ф Jennifer said.
The mageТs eyes, deep-set, were again curiously tender as he looked at her. УIТm sorry you have been frightened this evening. Will you accept my assurance that, unsettling as they may sound, the svarts need not be of concern to you?Ф He paused, his gaze holding hers. УI would not have you do anything that goes against your nature. I have extended to you an invitation, no more. You may find it easier to decide after leaving us.Ф He rose to his feet.
Another kind of power. A man accustomed to command, Kevin thought a few moments later, as the five of them found themselves outside the door of the room. They made their way down the hall to the elevator.
Matt S\a246ren closed the door behind them.
УHow bad is it?Ф Loren asked sharply.
The Dwarf grimaced, УNot very. I was careless.Ф
УA knife?Ф The mage was quickly helping his friend to remove the scaled-down jacket he wore.
УI wish. Teeth, actually.Ф Loren cursed in sudden anger when the jacket finally slipped off to reveal the dark, heavily clotted blood staining the shirt on the DwarfТs left shoulder. He began gently tearing the cloth away from around the wound, swearing under his breath the whole time.
УIt isnТt so bad, Loren. Be easy. And you must admit I was clever to take the jacket off before going after him.Ф
УVery clever, yes. Which is just as well, because my own stupidity of late is terrifying me! How in the name of Conall Cernach could I let a svart alfar come through with us?Ф He left the room with swift strides and returned a moment later with towels soaked in hot water.
The Dwarf endured the cleansing of his wound in silence. When the dried blood was washed away, the teeth marks could be seen, purple and very deep.
Loren examined it closely. УThis is bad, my friend. Are you strong enough to help me heal it? We could have Metran or Teyrnon do it tomorrow, but IТd rather not wait.Ф
УGo ahead.Ф Matt closed his eyes.
The mage paused a moment, then carefully placed a hand above the wound. He spoke a word softly, then another. And beneath his long fingers the swelling on the DwarfТs shoulder began slowly to recede. When he finished, though, the face of Matt S\a246ren was bathed in a sheen of perspiration. With his good arm Matt reached for a towel and wiped his forehead.
УAll right?Ф Loren asked.
УJust fine.Ф
УJust fine!Ф the mage mimicked angrily. УIt would help, you know, if you didnТt always play the silent hero! How am I supposed to know when youТre really hurting if you always give me the same answer?Ф
The Dwarf fixed Loren with his one dark eye, and there was a trace of amusement in his face. УYou arenТt,Ф he said. УYou arenТt supposed to know.Ф
Loren made a gesture of ultimate exasperation, and left the room again, returning with a shirt of his own, which he began cutting into strips.
УLoren, donТt blame yourself for letting the svart come through. You couldnТt have done anything.Ф
УDonТt be a fool! I should have been aware of its presence as soon as it tried to come within the circle.Ф
УIТm very seldom foolish, my friend.Ф The DwarfТs tone was mild. УYou couldnТt have known, because it was wearing this when I killed it.Ф S\a246ren reached into his right trouser pocket and pulled out an object that he held up in his palm. It was a bracelet, of delicate silver workmanship, and set within it was a gem, green like an emerald.
УA vellin stone!Ф Loren Silvercloak whispered in dismay. УSo it would have been shielded from me. Matt, someone gave a vellin to a svart alfar.Ф
УSo it would seem,Ф the Dwarf agreed.
The mage was silent; he attended to the bandaging of MattТs shoulder with quick, skilled hands. When that was finished he walked, still wordless, to the window. He opened it, and a late-night breeze fluttered the white curtains. Loren gazed down at the few cars moving along the street far below.
УThese five people,Ф he said at last, still looking down. УWhat am I taking them back to? Do I have any right?Ф
The Dwarf didnТt answer.
After a moment, Loren spoke again, almost to himself. УI left so much out.Ф
УYou did.Ф
УDid I do wrong?Ф
УPerhaps. But you are seldom wrong in these things. Nor is Ysanne. If you feel they are needed\a151Ф
УBut I donТt know what for! I donТt know \ihow\i. It is only her dreams, my premonitions. . . .Ф
УThen trust yourself. Trust your premonitions. The girl \iis\i a hook, and the other one, Paul\a151Ф
УHe is another thing. I donТt know what.Ф
УBut something. YouТve been troubled for a long time, my friend. And I donТt think needlessly.Ф
The mage turned from the window to look at the other man. УIТm afraid you may be right. Matt, who would have us followed here?Ф
УSomeone who wants you to fail in this. Which should tell us something.Ф